NEW DELHI: Dewald Brevis earned the biggest bid during the auction for the fourth season of the SA20. As one franchise after another lifted their paddle, taking the bid up by multiple increments, it was the Proteria Capitals who acquired him for R16.5 million (Rs 8.31 crore). In the process, he became the most expensive player in SA20 history, just moments after Aiden Markram had urged the franchises to break the bank with R14 million. The previous most expensive player was Tristan Stubbs who was brought in by Sunrisers Eastern Cape for R9.2 million in 2022.Brevis, who had played the first three seasons for MI Cape Town, struck 676 runs in 32 matches and 29 innings at an average of 29.39 and a strike rate of over 145, with four half-centuries and a top score of an unbeaten 73 runs.During MI Cape Town’s maiden title win last season, Brevis had a breakout season, scoring 291 runs in 10 matches at an average of 48.50 and a strike rate of 184.17, with two half-centuries.Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel. SUBSCRIBE NOW!Brevis, 22, has had a remarkable journey in the last three years. The Johannesburg-born player made his first mark at the 2022 U-19 World Cup where he emerged as the leading run-scorer. He was immediately rewarded with an IPL contract by the Mumbai Indians and earned himself the nickname ‘Baby AB’, to go with his range of shots. A knock of 162 off 57 balls – the quickest in South African T20 history – fast-tracked him into the international side.However, just as quick as the rise came the decline. He scored just five runs in two matches after making his T20I debut and chinks in his armour were quite evident. Importantly, he was sent back to domestic cricket to improve on the basics.“The best thing that could ever have happened to Dewald Brevis is to play domestic cricket for almost two years,” said Allan Donald to select Indian media in an interaction facilitated by SA20. “If you take where Brevis started and how he leapfrogged everything, like from school, it was straight into Mumbai Indians and various leagues around the world. He struggled, he battled. Didn’t do all that well. All of a sudden, he’s released from Mumbai Indians, comes back all the way to domestic cricket where he found himself.
Dewald Brevis vs Paarl Royals (Image credit: Sportzpics)
“And last year was difficult to bowl to, to anybody in South African domestic cricket. He had to go back there. He had to go back and find his game and understand what he’s about as a person. He’s a humble young man. I’ve known him since he was a young boy playing in the garden.“I just saw this kid grow and grow fast, almost too fast. The talent was overwhelming. ‘Baby AB’ was born and all of a sudden, that pressure and expectation maybe just got the better of him.“He came back to domestic cricket and he found his mates and just grew. It was so good to see him knowing his game, understanding his game, speaking to guys like Albie Morkel in the system who is now with him there and took him under his wing. All of a sudden, he gets a lucky break. He gets a break from Chennai Super Kings, goes over there and just lit the world up. Like I said, timing is everything,” Donald went on to explain.In IPL 2025, Brevis came on as an injury replacement for Gurjapneet Singh. The Rs 2.2 crore signing, having initially gone unsold at the IPL mega auction, made every penny count. In the six matches, he scored 225 runs at an average of 37.50 and strike rate of 180. He also produced two fifties – against Kolkata Knight Riders and Gujarat Titans – and appeared to set the foundation for being retained next season.
Sourav Ganguly (Image credit: Sportzpics)
The new Pretoria Capitals coach Sourav Ganguly was central to the big money signing and the franchise needed a batter of Brevis’ capabilities. Last season, Will Jacks was the top-scorer for Pretoria, scoring 225 runs in 10 matches, and the 15th highest scorer in the league. “Brevis is an exciting talent; his game has shown significant improvement. We saw that against Australia in the recent series. In auctions, though, money isn’t always a reflection of a player’s quality; it comes down to supply and demand. We’re delighted to have Brevis with us,” Ganguly had said.Donald concurred that Brevis was going to be a superstar, even if he doesn’t quite have the versatility of his idol AB de Villiers. “This kid has got the talent to, I wouldn’t say match that, but he has got the talent to win games from nothing. He’s shown it domestically. He’s now showing it on the bigger stage out there, he showed in Australia against a very good Australian team,” referring to an unbeaten 125 runs in 56 balls in August.“The talent and the execution of this young man, there’s no doubting that. Absolutely not. (But) There’s always going to be one AB. There always has been one AB. This guy’s got all the mannerisms of AB de Villiers and almost cloned himself on AB de Villiers. Why not have a hero like AB de Villiers?“The fact that he can do things that other batsmen [batters] can’t? 100%. Brevis is that sort of player. I think that as the years go on we’ll see how he develops and carries on in all formats. I know he wants to play Test cricket, but this format and the white ball stuff, the shortest of them all, he could be an absolute superstar. There is no doubt that he’s going to be an absolute superstar,” he stated.