The IPL 2026 Trade Window has already thrown up its fair share of intrigue, but Ravichandran Ashwin’s latest revelation about Chennai Super Kings’ 2025 mid-season signing of Dewald Brevis has added a whole new layer of controversy.
Speaking on his YouTube channel, Ashwin alleged that CSK went beyond the official signing process to secure the young South African talent, paying him more than the base price through intense negotiations with his agents. Brevis, who replaced injured pacer Gurjapneet Singh last season, officially joined the franchise for Rs 2.2 crore but Ashwin claims the “real deal” may have been sweeter.
“When Brevis was supposed to be signed as a replacement, he was to be brought in at base price. But talks with agents led to an extra payment. The player knows he’ll get more next season, so he uses that leverage. CSK were ready to pay, and that’s how it happened,” Ashwin said.
The Brevis Impact
Signed on April 18, 2025, Brevis instantly boosted CSK’s batting firepower. In just 6 matches, he smashed 225 runs at a blistering strike rate of 180, including two fifties. Alongside Ayush Mhatre, another mid-season pick, Brevis helped CSK stabilize their batting order in the latter half of the campaign.
It was a high-reward move – but now, Ashwin’s claims raise questions over whether it also bent the IPL’s unwritten rules.
Why It Matters for IPL 2026
The IPL’s auction model is built on budget parity – Rs 120 crore for each franchise to build their squads. Replacement signings typically occur at base price to maintain fairness. If under-the-table deals become the norm, teams with deeper pockets and stronger negotiation tactics could tilt the balance, securing players for “officially cheap” but “privately expensive” rates.
For IPL 2026, the Brevis saga could influence how teams operate in the trade window. With CSK reportedly carrying Rs 30 crore into the mini-auction, rivals will be keeping an eye on how they move in the market – especially after showing they’re willing to go the extra mile for the right player.
The Bigger Question
Is paying more than the declared price unethical? Technically, if done outside the BCCI’s purview, it undermines the league’s equal-opportunity structure. Practically, as Ashwin hinted, multiple franchises might already be doing it – CSK may just be the latest high-profile example.
Whether the BCCI tightens regulations or lets the trade window remain a wild west of negotiations will be a storyline worth watching. For now, the IPL 2026 buzz has its first real controversy, and it has Dewald Brevis right at the center of it.
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