Not Only CSK, RCB Have Done It Too : R Ashwin Clarifies on Dewald Brevis Signing Row
Ravichandran Ashwin clarifies his remarks on CSK’s signing of Dewald Brevis in IPL 2025, saying neither the player, franchise nor IPL governing body was at fault. He also cited RCB’s past signings to defend the move.
R Ashwin addresses the controversy around Dewald Brevis’ CSK signing, calling the young South African a “fabulous player” who has strengthened the team.
Chennai Super Kings’ (CSK) signing of South African youngster Dewald Brevis as an injury replacement in IPL 2025 sparked a major controversy after comments made by veteran off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin. His remarks suggested CSK may have paid "a little extra" to secure Brevis, who replaced the injured Gurjapneet Singh.
Brevis, with a base price of ₹75 lakh, went unsold in the IPL 2025 auction but later joined CSK as a replacement after Singh’s exit freed up ₹2.2 crore. Ashwin’s statement triggered speculation that extra money could have been involved in the deal, forcing clarifications from both the franchise and the cricketer himself.
Ashwin Clears the Air
Responding to the row on his YouTube channel, Ashwin said his words were misinterpreted and stressed that neither the player, the franchise, nor the IPL governing body was at fault.
“We live in times where even true stories need clarification. There is no wrongdoing here. If a franchise needs a player, it approaches the player or agent, informs the BCCI, and the matter ends there,” Ashwin explained.
He further highlighted that if anything had been irregular, the IPL Governing Council would not have ratified the deal.
“Not Just CSK, Even RCB Have Done It”
Ashwin pointed out that injury replacements are a regular part of the IPL and cited the example of Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) signing Chris Gayle in the past under similar circumstances.
“It is not only CSK who have used this flexibility. Many teams, including RCB, have done so before. That’s how Gayle became a superstar in the league,” he said.
On Brevis’ Form and Impact
Ashwin clarified that his original point was to highlight how well Brevis has been batting since joining CSK.
“Brevis is a fabulous player. The way he is batting, CSK has struck gold with this decision. Whoever made the call has taken a brilliant one,” Ashwin said.
He added that in today’s social media-driven environment, statements often get twisted when taken out of context.
Conclusion
Ashwin’s clarification makes it clear that CSK’s signing of Dewald Brevis was well within IPL rules, and the controversy was largely fuelled by misinterpretation. With Brevis in top form, the move could turn out to be one of the smartest mid-season signings of IPL 2025.
