Should CSK Retain Dewald Brevis for IPL 2026 After His Stellar IPL 2025 Performance?

As South Africa’s young player Dewald Brevis scored an impressive 125 not out off 56 balls to help his team level the T20 series against Australia, AB de Villiers quickly tweeted his thoughts. He said, “There was such a great chance for IPL teams to pick up Dewald Brevis at the auction! They missed out badly. CSK either got really lucky or made the best decision ever. The boy can play.”

Chennai Super Kings brought in Dewald Brevis to replace Gurjapneet Singh during IPL 2025 after the pacer was ruled out for the season. Brevis signed a contract worth INR 2.2 crore. Despite having a solid bowling attack, CSK struggled with their batting, and with only seven foreign players allowed in the squad, they decided to bring in a batter who could add some firepower to the middle overs instead of replacing Gurjapneet with another pacer.

Brevis plаyed six matches for CSK scoring 225 runs at a strike rate of 180. The middle order, which included Rahul Tripathi, Vijay Shаnkar, and Deepаk Hooda, didn’t deliver as expected, and the team needed someone like Brevis to provide momentum. This role was previously filled by Suresh Raina and with Brevis in the mix, CSK saw a glimpse of the kind of batting strength they had in their successful years.

Should CSK Retain Dewald Brevis for IPL 2026 After His Impactful Role in 2025?

The big question now is whether CSK can keep Dewald Brevis for INR 2.2 crore in IPL 2026. The answer is yes, as players who joined different franchises after the competition resumed due to cross-border tensions aren’t eligible for retention. For example, Mumbai Indians won’t be able to retain Jonny Bairstow, Gujarat Titans can’t keep Kusal Mendis and Punjab Kings won’t be able to retain Kyle Jamieson.

CSK had one of their worst IPL seasons in 2025, but a silver lining was signing 'Baby AB' Dewald Brevis, who became a sensation in the T20 circuit globally. Initially, CSK didn’t plan to get Brevis, but after losing six of their first eight games, they were forced to make a change. It was a mix of desperation, smart thinking, and a bit of luck that led to them bringing Brevis in as a replacement for medium-pacer Gurjapneet Singh, rather than for a batter, according to a CSK source.

Dewald Brevis had previously played a couple of IPL seasons with Mumbai Indians, but he only got 10 games and didn’t impress. MI released him, a decision they might regret, but no other franchises showed interest during the auction. CSK took a chance on him after losing six of their first eight games and with Ruturaj Gaikwad injured. Brevis wasn’t a clear choice at first, as CSK also considered Jonny Bairstow, but coach Stephen Fleming and MS Dhoni believed in giving youth a chance, especially with no chance of making the playoffs. 

Brevis made an instant impаct, scoring 42 off 25 balls against SRH in a low-scoring game аnd following it up with strong performances against teams like KKR and Gujarat Titans. Since then, Brevis has only gotten better, even setting a record for the highest individual score by a South African in T20Is. Despite his growth, CSK still feels he isn’t a finished product. The frаnchise believes he has more potential and is willing to give him time to develop into one of their future stars.

Dewald Brevis’ IPL 2025 Performance: Match-Wise Stats for CSK

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