Johannesburg : South African cricket prodigy Dewald Brevis, affectionately known as 'Baby AB', expresses that being likened to AB de Villiers has always felt more like an honor than a burden.
This year in T20 matches, Brevis has been in outstanding form, amassing 995 runs over 30 innings with an average of 43.26 and an impressive strike rate of 186.32, bolstered by six half-centuries and one century, with a top score of 125*.
"It was during the Under-19 World Cup 2022 when a friend of mine held up a sign that read 'Baby AB' after I scored 50 against India. Since then, I've been telling everyone that it has never felt like a burden, nor have I experienced any pressure. For me, it was one of the most memorable moments. I have always admired you (De Villiers), looked up to you, and continue to learn a great deal from you. Being compared to you is a tremendous privilege," Brevis shared while discussing on De Villiers' YouTube channel.
In the 2021-22 ICC Under-19 World Cup, Brevis emerged as the tournament's leading run-scorer, accumulating 506 runs in six matches at an average of 84.33 and a strike rate of 90.19. During this event, the young right-handed batsman achieved three fifties and two centuries, with his highest score being 138.
In the latest season of the Indian Premier League (IPL), Brevis stood out as one of the few bright spots in CSK's disappointing last-place finish, scoring 225 runs in six matches at an average of 37.50, with a strike rate of 180.00 and two half-centuries. He stepped in as a replacement for the injured bowler Gurjanpreet Singh.
Brevis joined CSK after spending two seasons with the five-time champions, Mumbai Indians (MI), where he accumulated 230 runs in 10 matches, averaging 23.00, with a top score of 49.
He was acquired by the Mumbai Indians (MI) for the 2022 season at a price of Rs three crores, entering the tournament following a record-setting 2022 U19 World Cup for South Africa, where he scored an impressive 506 runs in six matches at an average of 84.33, including two centuries and three fifties, and achieving a strike rate of 90.19.
Currently, the young player is part of South Africa's white-ball tour in England.
Although he struggled during the ODI segment of the Australia tour, posting single-digit scores in two matches, he excelled in the T20I segment, amassing an impressive 180 runs in three matches at an average of 90.00, with a strike rate of 204 and a personal best of 125*, marking the highest score by a South African in T20 internationals.
