AB de Villiers has openly criticised Indian Premier League franchises for overlooking Dewald Brevis in the 2025 auction, calling it one of the biggest missed opportunities in recent years. His comments came shortly after Brevis produced a stunning unbeaten 125 off 56 balls against Australia in Darwin—the highest-ever T20I score by a South African—which powered his team to a 53-run victory and ended Australia’s nine-match winning streak.
Brevis, often dubbed “Baby AB” for his playing style reminiscent of de Villiers, went unsold in the IPL auction despite being considered one of the brightest young batting talents in world cricket. The Chennai Super Kings eventually signed him mid-season as a replacement player, a move that now appears to be a masterstroke. De Villiers remarked that while CSK may have struck gold, the rest of the franchises “missed out badly” on a generational talent.
In Darwin, Brevis walked to the crease with South Africa struggling at 57 for 3. What followed was an exhibition of fearless stroke play as he dismantled the Australian attack, hitting 12 fours and eight towering sixes. His innings not only rescued South Africa but also set a new benchmark for individual brilliance in their T20I history. At just 22 years old, Brevis has already stamped his authority on the global stage.
The episode highlights the risks IPL franchises take when passing over high-potential players in favour of more experienced or in-form names. Brevis’s innings serves as a reminder that auctions cannot fully capture a player’s potential impact, especially for those still developing but possessing elite talent. It also underscores the value of mid-season signings, where the right choice can transform a team’s fortunes.
For Brevis, the knock is more than just a personal milestone—it’s a statement of intent. It reinforces his reputation as one of the most dangerous young batters in world cricket and will likely make him one of the most sought-after players in future franchise tournaments. For the franchises that passed him over, it’s a hard lesson in spotting talent before it explodes on the biggest stage.
De Villiers’s critique resonates not just as the opinion of a former great but as a warning to cricket administrators and talent scouts: in the fast-moving world of T20 cricket, failing to back raw brilliance can mean missing the very moments that define a season. And in Brevis’s case, the moment has already arrived.