IPL 2025: [Explained] Why CSK were permitted to sign overseas player Dewald Brevis as replacement for an uncapped Indian?

Chennai Super Kings (CSK), a franchise renowned for their strategic acumen in the Indian Premier League (IPL), recently executed a mid-season signing that has sparked considerable discussion within the cricket enthusiasts.

CSK signs Dewald Brevis for the remaining matches of IPL 2025

The five-time champions onboarded South African batting sensation Dewald Brevis as an injury replacement for their uncapped Indian left-arm pace bowler, Gurjapneet Singh. This move, while aimed at bolstering CSK’s struggling campaign in IPL 2025, has raised eyebrows due to the seemingly unconventional nature of an overseas batter replacing a domestic, uncapped bowler.

Brevis brings with him a rich T20 pedigree, having featured in 81 matches and amassing 1787 runs, including a remarkable highest score of 162. He has also represented South Africa in two T20 international fixtures since his debut in 2023. Prior to joining CSK, Brevis had a stint with Mumbai Indians (MI) in the IPL and has showcased his talent in other prominent T20 leagues worldwide.

Why were CSK allowed to sign an overseas player as a replacement for an uncapped Indian?

The central question arising from this signing revolves around the IPL’s stringent regulations concerning the composition of playing XIs and squad limits, particularly regarding overseas players. Typically, teams are allowed a maximum of four overseas players in their playing eleven and a total of eight in their squad. The query then becomes: how was CSK allowed to sign an overseas player as a replacement for an uncapped Indian cricketer?

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The answer lies within the IPL’s specific rules governing player replacements during the season. According to these established guidelines, while a replacement player must have a base price that is either equal to or lower than the player they are replacing, there is no explicit stipulation mandating that an Indian player must be replaced by another Indian player. Similarly, the rules do not dictate that an uncapped player must be replaced by another uncapped player. In the case of Brevis and Gurjapneet Singh, Brevis’s base price at the auction was INR 2 crore, which is less than the INR 2.2 crore that CSK paid for Gurjapneep. This financial criterion was therefore satisfied, paving the way for Brevis’s inclusion in the squad.

Furthermore, at the IPL 2025 mega auction, CSK had strategically signed only six overseas players, leaving two slots within their permitted quota of eight vacant. This foresight proved crucial in enabling them to secure the services of ‘Baby AB’ without exceeding the stipulated limit for international players in their squad. The availability of these overseas slots provided the necessary headroom for this mid-season acquisition.

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