Following Ravichandran Ashwin’s recent incendiary accusation, the Chennai Super Kings (CSK) have clarified their decision to recruit South Africa batter Dewald Brevis. Midway through the Indian Premier League 2025 (IPL 2025) season, Ashwin had alluded to the fact that CSK would need to pay more to get Brevis in order to replace seamer Gurjapneet Singh.
Although Brevis was purchased for a league cost of INR 2.2 crore, Ashwin recently asserted that the young player received a larger sum at his request. CSK has refuted these allegations, stating that the signing procedure was carried out in accordance with IPL rules and regulations.
“Chennai Super Kings categorically clarifies that all actions taken by the franchise during the signing process of Dewald Brevis as a Replacement Player during Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 were in complete compliance with the rules and regulations of IPL,” said CSK in a media release.
As per the IPL Player Regulations 2025-27 (clause 6.6), a replacement player’s fee cannot exceed that of the original player. For mid-season signings, the payment is also adjusted based on the number of matches already played before the replacement joins.
“A replacement Player signed pursuant to either paragraph 6.1 or 6.2 can be recruited at a League Fee which shall not be more than the League Fee that would have been payable to the injured/unavailable Player for the relevant Season. If a Replacement Player is recruited during a Season, the League Fee actually paid to him will be reduced to take account of the Franchisee’s matches during the relevant Season which took place before he was registered and any other relevant deductions under the Player Contract,” the clause states.
Joining CSK midway through the season, Brevis made an immediate impact, scoring 225 runs in six innings at an average of 37.50 and an explosive strike rate of 180. He notched up two half-centuries, including a blistering 57 off 23 balls against Gujarat Titans in the season finale, which earned him the Player of the Match award. Earlier, he had also produced a match-winning 52 off 25 balls against Kolkata Knight Riders in Match 57.
With Brevis in excellent form, CSK hopes the young player can maintain his explosive play in the upcoming season and lead them to a spectacular recovery following their worst-ever showing, which saw them finish bottom for the first time in 2025.
