CHENNAI: Senior spinner R Ashwin has clarified his remarks regarding Chennai Super Kings’ signing of Dewald Brevis, emphasizing that his focus was on the South African’s batting rather than the price paid during the mid-season IPL 2025 acquisition.
The controversy arose after Ashwin, a current CSK player, hinted on his YouTube channel that the five-time IPL champions were willing to pay “extra” for Brevis. His comments prompted the franchise to issue an official clarification.
“My intent in the earlier video was to highlight Brevis’ batting, not discuss his IPL contract. Every player in the IPL has a binding agreement with both the franchise and the league. If anything is amiss, it simply wouldn’t be ratified,” Ashwin explained on his channel.
Describing Brevis as a “special talent,” Ashwin added:
“Injury replacements are common in the IPL, and the focus is on how rules are applied. CSK and South Africa fans should be excited about Brevis. He’s a phenomenal player.”
Following the remarks, CSK released a statement on Saturday, confirming that the signing process fully adhered to league regulations.
“Chennai Super Kings categorically clarifies that all actions during the signing of Dewald Brevis as a Replacement Player in IPL 2025 were in complete compliance with IPL rules and regulations,” the statement read.
It further detailed the contract: “In April 2025, Dewald Brevis was signed for a league fee of INR 2.2 crore as a replacement for the injured Gurjapneet Singh, who had been acquired at the IPL 2025 Player Auction in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, for INR 2.2 crore.”
Ashwin acknowledged the need to clarify his earlier comments:
“In today’s times, it’s important to set the record straight. No mistakes were made by the franchise, the player, or the governing body. The clarification arose because there were questions and doubts among fans and media.”
Reiterating his admiration for Brevis, Ashwin praised CSK’s decision:
“The way Brevis is batting, CSK has truly struck gold. Bringing him on board was an excellent move. He’s been hitting massive sixes and proving to be a powerhouse, especially against spin. It’s been a remarkable signing for the franchise.”
