The five-time IPL champions have brought in the South African batsman, known as “Baby AB,” as a replacement for the Indian pacer.
Dewald Brevis’ unexpected opportunity to join the IPL came about due to Gurjapneet Singh’s misfortune, which turned into a stroke of luck for the talented South African. Brevis has now joined Chennai Super Kings as a replacement for the Indian pacer.
Last November, Brevis went unsold at the 2025 IPL mega auction, with a base price of ₹75 lakh. However, Chennai has now secured him for ₹2.2 crore.
Chennai confirmed the change in a statement on Friday.
The 21-year-old Brevis is known for his batting skills and also occasionally bowls leg-spin. He has played two T20Is for South Africa in 2023 against Australia.
In total, Brevis has played 81 matches in T20s, scoring 1,787 runs at a strike rate of 144.93. His highest score is 162, and he has scored seven fifties.
His batting style is often compared to South African legend AB de Villiers, and from a young age, Brevis gained recognition as “Baby AB.” His impressive performance in the 2022 Under-19 World Cup earned him a spot in Mumbai Indians during that year’s IPL. Over 10 matches in the 2022 and 2024 IPL seasons, he scored 230 runs at a strike rate of 133.72.
In addition to the IPL, Brevis has participated in various franchise leagues, including the West Indies’ CPL, the USA’s MLC, and South Africa’s SA20.
In the recent SA20 season, Brevis scored 291 runs at a strike rate of 184.17, finishing as the sixth-highest scorer. He played a pivotal role in MI Cape Town’s first title win by scoring 38 runs off 18 balls in the final.
Brevis carried his form into South Africa’s domestic 50-over competition, the CSA Provincial One-Day Challenge, where he scored 398 runs at an average of 66.33 and a strike rate of 156.07, finishing as the second-highest run-scorer of the season.
He then returned to first-class cricket, scoring 99, 148, and 80 in his next three matches.
Now, Brevis is eager to showcase his talent in this IPL season.
Chennai had initially acquired Tamil Nadu pacer Gurjapneet Singh for ₹2.2 crore in the auction. However, he was ruled out without playing a single match.
Currently, Chennai sits at the bottom of the points table with just two wins from seven matches. With regular captain Ruturaj Gaikwad sidelined due to injury, MS Dhoni, their five-time IPL-winning captain, is leading the team.
