In a major mid-season move, Chennai Super Kings (CSK) have signed rising South African star Dewald Brevis, famously known as ‘Baby AB’, as a replacement for the injured Gurjapneet Singh for the remainder of IPL 2025.
The franchise confirmed the development on Friday, bringing some much-needed excitement to their campaign, as the five-time champions currently languish at the bottom of the points table with only two wins so far this season.
Deal Details:
Although Brevis had a base price of just ₹75 lakh during the IPL 2025 mega auction, CSK have acquired his services for a significantly higher amount — ₹2.2 crore.
Normally, an Indian player can only be replaced by another Indian cricketer. However, since CSK had an overseas slot left open after the auction, they utilized it to bring in the explosive right-hander from South Africa.
Who is Dewald Brevis?
Nicknamed ‘Baby AB’ for his resemblance — in looks and playing style — to the legendary AB de Villiers, 21-year-old Dewald Brevis is regarded as one of the most promising talents in world cricket today.
- 🏏 T20 Career Stats: 81 matches, Strike Rate: 144.93
- 🇿🇦 South Africa T20Is: Played 2 matches
- 📈 SA20 2025: 6th-highest run-getter – 291 runs in 10 games
- 🧨 MLC 2024: 250 runs in 9 matches, Avg. 31.25, SR 133+
- 🏆 CSA 4-Day Series 2025: 573 runs in 12 innings, Avg. 47.75
Despite limited opportunities at the international level, Brevis has already made a mark in multiple leagues worldwide. He previously played 10 matches for Mumbai Indians in the IPL and continues to represent them in Major League Cricket (USA) and the SA20 league.
What It Means for CSK:
This move is expected to add serious firepower to CSK’s middle order, which has struggled to finish games effectively. Brevis’ arrival gives captain MS Dhoni (or interim skipper, depending on Gaikwad’s status) a dynamic and aggressive batting option, possibly a perfect partner for Shivam Dube or a game-changer in the powerplay and death overs.
It’s worth noting that this is the second replacement signing for CSK in IPL 2025. Earlier, the team brought in Ayush Mhatre, a Mumbai-based batting prodigy, to fill in for injured captain Ruturaj Gaikwad.
CSK’s Current Challenges:
- ❌ Bottom of the table
- ✅ Only 2 wins in 7 games
- 😟 Injuries to key players (Gurjapneet & Gaikwad)
- 🔁 Constant chopping & changing in team combinations
What’s Next for Chennai?
With Brevis in the squad, CSK will be looking to bounce back strongly in the second half of the tournament. They face arch-rivals Mumbai Indians next on April 20 at the Wankhede Stadium — a venue where Brevis himself has played several impactful innings.
