Chennai Super Kings has issued a clarification regarding the replacement signing of batting star Dewald Brevis during the IPL 2025 season, refuting claims of their veteran spin all-rounder R Ashwin, who recently suggested that the franchise was “ready to pay” more than stipulated figures to acquire the services of the South African cricketer.
Ashwin, who had expressed that he is open to trading himself out of his home franchise recently, revealed that the 22-year-old Brevis who lit up a cracking century against Australia this week, was approached by multiple teams during the IPL 2025 season.
“I will tell you something. About Brevis. He had a great time last IPL with CSK. In fact, a few teams were talking to him. A few teams left him because of the price. When he was supposed to be signed as a replacement, he was supposed to be signed at the base price. But what happens is you talk to the agents and the player will say, if you give me X amount extra, I will come,” Ashwin said on his YouTube channel.
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“That happens because the player knows if he is released next season, he will go for good money. So his concept was that, you pay me good money now else I will go for more next year. And CSK were ready to pay him, hence he came. In the back half, the CSK combination was strong. They will go with Rs 30 crore in IPL 2026 mini auction,” Ashwin added.
The existing IPL rules state that the signing of a replacement player cannot exceed that of the player he will be replacing on the roster. The figure stood at Rs 2.2 crore in this case as CSK approached Brevis (listed at base price of INR 75 lakh) to replace Gurjapneet who was drafted in during the auction.
CSK denies wrongdoing
“Chennai Super Kings categorically clarifies that all actions taken by the franchise during the signing process of Dewald Brevis as a Replacement Player during TATA Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 were in complete compliance with the rules and regulations of IPL,” a franchise statement read.
After being snubbed in the IPL 2024 Mega Auctions, Brevis was roped in as a surprise pick by the Super Kings on April 18, 2025, exactly at the halfway point of their season. In the first seven matches, CSK only won two matches before the Brevis coup brought in some stability later on.
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“Dewald Brevis was signed in full accordance with the IPL Player Regulations 2025-27, specifically clause 6.6 under ‘Replacement Players’,” the five-time champions’ statement read further.
