South African cricketing great AB de Villiers has gone on record to hail the emerging star Dewald Brevis as a legitimate possibility to be the next "Mr. 360°" in world cricket, a strong endorsement! Talking to Indian YouTuber Shubhankar Mishra, de Villiers mentioned Brevis' fearless outlook and expansive shot-making as reasons he believes the young gun can follow his path.

“From South Africa, I would say Dewald Brevis (who could become the next 360-degree player in the game). He has the number 17 on the back. He plays a similar kind of cricket, very attacking, and still has a lot to learn,” said de Villiers. De Villiers, who spent 11 seasons as a fan-favorite at Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB), couldn’t resist joking about Brevis’ current IPL association with Chennai Super Kings (CSK). “Yeah, it's a shame he's playing for CSK and not RCB, but that can still change, never say never,” he smiled.

Brevis’ Growing Credentials

Now 22, Dewald Brevis made his international debut for South Africa in August 2023 and has already represented the Proteas in two Tests and seven T20Is. Though he’s yet to debut in ODIs, he has featured in 25 List A games and continues to impress across formats.

In IPL 2025, Brevis was picked up by CSK as a injury replacement for Gurjapneet Singh, Believing there would be more opportunities for him after the mega auction in Jeddah when he went unsold, Brevis took advantage of the opportunity and made a good impact scoring 225 runs off six matches at an amazing strike rate of 180, and two destructive fifties his best came against the Gujarat Titans with 57 runs scored at Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad. Despite his individual brilliance, CSK endured a rare off-season, winning just four games out of 14 and finishing last in the table, their worst-ever IPL campaign.

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Brevis’ Recent International Form

Brevis was part of South Africa’s squad in the recently concluded Zimbabwe T20I Tri-Nation Series. In six matches, he crossed the 30-run mark four times, striking at an impressive rate of 187.32, reinforcing his credentials as a modern T20 powerhouse. He is set to feature next in South Africa’s white-ball series against Australia starting August 10 in Darwin, which includes three T20Is followed by three ODIs.

Praise for Suryakumar Yadav and a 14-Year-Old Prodigy

While speaking on the “Mr. 360” mantle, de Villiers also lauded India’s Suryakumar Yadav, calling him the most complete 360-degree batter in the game today. “SKY is already a Mr. 360 in his own right. The way he manipulates the field and plays unconventional shots under pressure is exceptional,” de Villiers said. Looking even further into the future, he named 14-year-old Vaibhav Suryavanshi as a player to watch from the next generation. “He’s only 14 years old and still has a lot to learn, but his fearless approach reminds me of the younger me,” ABD noted.

A Changing Game, A Timeless Tag

The “Mr. 360” tag has evolved from an exclusivity of de Villiers and his miraculous strokeplay to every budding version of “Mr. 360” in Dewald Brevis, Suryakumar Yadav, and more. Given how cricket is continually evolving with inventive shot-making and aggressive mindsets, it seems the torch is ready to be passed over to a new version of "Mr. 360" with de Villiers standing proud, watching from an arm's length away.

AB de Villiers, during the IPL 2025 Qualifier 2 commentary, hailed Suryakumar Yadav as the "Mr. 360 of the modern era." This statement reflects Yadav's extraordinary ability to play shots all around the wicket, reminiscent of de Villiers' own iconic style. His innovative and versatile batting makes it nearly impossible for bowlers to set fields against him.

De Villiers was specifically impressed by Yadav's unique blend of further finesse and unbridled power. With Yadav's range of adaptability and inventive shot selection pointing to direct comparison with the great South African. His untraditional skills and 360 scoring patterns, make him a content T20 match-winner, who can easily disturb the more disciplined bowling attacks.

The term Mr. 360 represents the batsman's ability to score runs from every angle possible. He has demoralized the opposition with his hard-hitting runs yet is capable of doing so quickly in high-pressure situations - wonderful to watch. Referred to by de Villiers during the key qualifier clash, we saw how Yadav can dominate and single-handedly shift the momentum as a one-man wrecking crew.

Suryakumar Yadav's Impactful Performance in IPL 2025 Qualifier 2

In the IPL 2025 Qualifier 2 hosted at Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad, Suryakumar Yadav scored a vital 44 runs from 27 balls on this occasion against Punjab Kings. His dynamic innings featured trademark lofted cover drives and inventive shots to keep the Mumbai Indians' momentum going and set a challenging target.

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🚨Big breaking🚨

AB de Villiers just confirmed Surya Kumar Yadav is the Mr 360 of modern Era #MIvsPBKS
pic.twitter.com/2rRVEnpwbC

— Immy|| 🇮🇳 (@TotallyImro45) June 1, 2025

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Mumbai Indians scored a tough 203/6 in 20 overs, with Yadav's involvement being crucial. Yadav's ability to accelerate under pressure swung the match in MI's favor. MI gave the Punjab Kings a daunting run rate to chase, assisted with MI's tight bowling during their chase, and Yadav's impact was felt throughout the match.