R Ashwin Slams CSK, Says IPL Team Paid Dewald Brevis Under The Table

Ravichandran Ashwin, a renowned spinner, has brought to light some questionable practices in the Indian Premier League (IPL). He revealed that Chennai Super Kings (CSK) paid more than the official Rs 2.2 crore to secure Dewald Brevis as a replacement player in IPL 2025. This revelation was made in Ashwin's recent YouTube video.

Brevis joined CSK on April 18, during the IPL 2025 season, when the team was struggling with its batting lineup. The South African cricketer was brought in as a replacement for injured pacer Gurjapneet Singh. Alongside Ayush Mhatre, Brevis helped strengthen CSK's performance in the latter part of the tournament.

Negotiation Dynamics

Ashwin explained that many franchises were interested in signing Brevis, but CSK succeeded by offering him more money after intense negotiations with his agents. "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," Ashwin stated.

He further elaborated on how players like Brevis understand their market value and leverage it during negotiations. "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 added.

Impact on Auction System

The IPL's auction system is designed to maintain parity among teams by setting a budget cap of Rs 120 crore for each squad. Under-the-table deals undermine this system by allowing teams to sign players for less than their market value. If Ashwin's claims are accurate, such practices could give certain teams an unfair advantage during auctions.

In Brevis's case, although CSK officially paid Rs 2.2 crore, the actual amount might have been higher due to these hidden negotiations. This raises questions about whether other teams might be using similar tactics with different players.

Performance Highlights

Despite the controversy surrounding his signing, Dewald Brevis delivered impressive performances for CSK in IPL 2025. He scored 225 runs from six matches, including two half-centuries, and maintained a strike rate of 180. His contributions were crucial in boosting CSK's performance towards the end of the season.