Dewald Brevis Becomes SA20’s Most Expensive Player as Pretoria Capitals Spend R16.5m

South African cricket has entered a new financial frontier. Dewald Brevis, the 22-year-old batting prodigy from Pretoria, was snapped up for a jaw-dropping R16.5 million at the SA20 player auction in Johannesburg, making him the most expensive signing in the league’s short but explosive history.

A Record Breaking Homecoming

Nicknamed “Baby AB” for his fearless shot-making, Brevis has been one of the country’s most hyped young cricketers since his teenage years. Just last month, he smashed 125 not out against Australia to set the record for the highest T20I score by a South African. Now, he’s coming home to play for his local franchise, the Pretoria Capitals, after three seasons with MI Cape Town.

The auction turned into a bidding war between four teams the Capitals, Paarl Royals, Joburg Super Kings, and Brevis’ former employers, MI Cape Town. The Super Kings pushed the price up to R16 million before finally backing down, leaving the Capitals to seal the deal under the leadership of new director of cricket, former Indian captain Sourav Ganguly.

“This isn’t about the money, it’s about the talent,” Ganguly said after the signing. “Brevis plays spin beautifully, he’s fearless, and he’s already shown he’s a game-changer.”

Shattering Old Records

Until now, the record fee at an SA20 auction was R9.2 million, paid for Tristan Stubbs by the Sunrisers Eastern Cape in 2022. That mark has now been nearly doubled.

It wasn’t just Brevis rewriting the books. Proteas T20I captain Aiden Markram became the first player to break the R10 million barrier earlier in the day, moving from the Sunrisers to Durban’s Super Giants for R14 million. Joburg Super Kings invested big in all-rounder Wiaan Mulder (R9m), while fiery pacer Gerald Coetzee fetched R7.4m for the Super Giants.

The numbers underline how far the league has come in just three years. SA20 commissioner Graeme Smith admitted he rarely likes to talk about figures, but said the investment is proof that franchises believe in South African talent: “It’s credit to the players. They’ve performed, they’ve grown, and the world is watching.”

Social Media Buzz

On X, cricket fans were stunned by the figures. “R16.5 million for Brevis. South Africa’s cricket is finally entering the big leagues,” wrote one user. Others joked about “Baby AB’s allowance being bigger than PSL team budgets,” while many Pretoria locals celebrated his return home.

The debate now turns to whether Brevis can carry the weight of expectation. Big money buys often come with pressure, but his fearless knock against Australia has already shown he thrives under the spotlight.

A Defining Season Ahead

The fourth edition of the SA20 kicks off on 26 December and runs until 26 January, smack in the middle of South Africa’s summer. With local players fetching record fees and international stars lining up, the tournament is quickly becoming a central part of the global cricket calendar.

For Pretoria fans, though, all eyes will be on one man: Dewald Brevis. At just 22, he’s already redefined South African T20 history. Now, with a record-breaking price tag and the weight of a city’s expectations, he has the chance to prove he’s worth every cent.

Source:SABC Sport

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