5 Major Statements by CSK Star Dewald Brevis in Recent Chat with AB de Villiers

Chennai Super Kings (CSK) player Dewald Brevis is quickly becoming one of the most exciting cricketers in the world. He is nicknamed 'Baby AB' because he can play shots all around the ground, just like former South African star AB de Villiers. This year, Brevis is living up to that reputation.

After struggling with inconsistencies in the first few years of his career, the 22-year-old finally performed well in the last SA20 and IPL seasons. His performances in the leagues have also made him an important part of the South African team in all formats.

This year came full circle when Brevis spoke with his idol, AB de Villiers, on the latter’s YouTube channel. During the conversation, the CSK batter made several interesting statements. Here are the top five most important statements.

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1. Playing with MS Dhoni in CSK

Young players often have a lot to say when they play for CSK with the legendary MS Dhoni. Brevis spoke highly about the former CSK captain in his conversation with AB de Villiers.

"The one thing that stood out for me about MS is his humbleness and the kind of person he is. Off the field, he always has time for players. His room door is always open, only closed when he is sleeping," said Brevis.

He added, "I found myself sitting in his room a few times, chatting about hobbies or watching cricket. It was amazing to see how he is off the field. Everyone knows what he does on the field, but off the field is special too. I really enjoyed my time there."

Brevis was one of the few bright spots for CSK last season, scoring 225 runs at an average of 37.50 with a strike rate of 180 in six matches.

2. Lessons from the IPL

Brevis said playing in the IPL was challenging at first, especially balancing independence and family. He started with Mumbai Indians (MI) in 2022 and played three seasons with them.

"At the start, I was young and wanted to find my feet. I wanted to show I am grown up and can manage things myself," he said.

He added, "Whatever I do off the field, I like to share with my family and close people. Those small things are important, and you should not punish yourself."

Brevis struggled at MI, scoring only 230 runs in 10 matches at an average of 23, with no half-centuries.

3. Becoming 'Baby AB'

Brevis recalled how he got the nickname 'Baby AB'. After his half-century against India in the 2022 Under-19 World Cup, a friend held a board with 'Baby AB' written on it. "Since then, I never felt pressure. It was a privilege to be compared to AB de Villiers. I have always idolized him and still learn from him," said Brevis. He finished the tournament as the leading run-scorer with 506 runs at an average of over 84 in six innings.

4. Love for Chennai

Brevis spoke about his love for Chennai and batting at Chepauk Stadium. He also mentioned Dharamsala as a beautiful place despite not playing there. "Batting at Chepauk Stadium was incredible, especially my second entry. Chennai is a special place for me," he said. Brevis has also been in great form for South Africa, scoring the second-fastest T20I century off 41 balls in August.

5. An Unknown Truth

Brevis shared a personal side about himself. He said he gets emotional watching movies and would have played Rugby if not cricket. "I do get emotional watching movies. If not cricket, I would have played Rugby. I had to choose between the two," he said. Brevis is currently part of the South African squad in the ongoing ODI series in England.