NEW DELHI: Dewald Brevis has shattered records to become the most expensive player in SA20 history, with Pretoria Capitals signing the 22-year-old batting sensation for a staggering R16.5 million (approximately Rs 8.3 crore). The bid, led by new Capitals head coach Sourav Ganguly, surpassed the previous high for Aiden Markram and set the auction room abuzz.Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel. SUBSCRIBE NOW!The bidding war began the moment Brevis’ name was announced, as Joburg Super Kings and Paarl Royals engaged in a heated contest. Within minutes, the figure had crossed the 10-million mark, drawing applause from the room. After the Royals backed out, JSK looked set to secure their man, but Ganguly’s Capitals swooped in at R10.1 million. The back-and-forth between Stephen Fleming’s Super Kings and Ganguly’s Capitals continued relentlessly, pushing the price higher.As it happened: SA20 Auction 2025The defining moment came when JSK raised the paddle to R15 million, forcing the Capitals to pause. But Ganguly, determined to land the Proteas star, returned with R16.5 million. With Fleming eventually signalling JSK were done, the Capitals sealed the record deal to a collective sigh of relief.
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Speaking after the dramatic buy, Ganguly praised Brevis’ rising stature in world cricket: “I hope he does well. I think he is a tremendous talent. His game has really progressed over the last one and a half year, as we saw against Australia. On that tour, he showed he is a game-changer, and that’s exactly what you need in T20 cricket. We have Russell, Rutherford, who can really step it up, and I hope Brevis does the same.”Importantly, Ganguly stressed that the value lay in Brevis’ skills rather than the price tag: “I never associate performance with money. Leaving aside the R16.5 million, I believe he is a fantastic talent. He plays spin very well, which is extremely important, and taking everything into account, that’s why he went for that price.”Brevis, who made waves as a replacement signing for Chennai Super Kings in IPL 2025, had scored 225 runs in six matches at a blistering strike rate of 180, including two half-centuries. Now, as the costliest-ever SA20 signing, he will carry the weight of expectations as Pretoria Capitals aim to make history under Ganguly’s leadership.
