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Complete Timeline Of CSK’s Dewald Brevis Signing Controversy Involving R Ashwin

Jatin

Dewald Brevis and R Ashwin [Source: @INDCricketGuide, @definitelynot05/x.com]Dewald Brevis and R Ashwin [Source: @INDCricketGuide, @definitelynot05/x.com]

The IPL is no stranger to drama and this time the limelight has fallen on Chennai Super Kings, Ravichandran Ashwin and South Africa’s batting prodigy Dewald Brevis. What started as a casual revelation on Ashwin’s YouTube channel snowballed into a full-blown controversy with fans accusing CSK of breaking the rules.

But was there really any rule-breaking or was just a casual statement blown out of proportion? Let’s take a detailed look at the timeline of Ashwin-CSK-Brevis incident.

Ashwin’s YouTube Comment

It all began when Ashwin, fresh off Brevis’ sensational 125* vs Australia in the second T20I, spoke on his YouTube channel about how CSK were “willing to pay extra” to sign the young South African. The words spread like wildfire across social media.

Fans accused CSK of flouting IPL regulations, questioning how the franchise could pay beyond the base price of INR 75 lakh for a player who went unsold in the auction.

How Brevis Actually Joined CSK?

The reality was far more straightforward. Brevis had gone unsold in the IPL auction despite a base price of INR 75 lakh. But when Harry Brook pulled out, Delhi Capitals were in line to sign him. Things changed when CSK lost pacer Gurjapneet Singh to injury. With an overseas slot still open, CSK roped in Brevis as a replacement for Gurjapneet.

Under IPL rules, a replacement can’t be signed for more than the fee of the injured player. Since Gurjapneet was signed at INR 2.2 crore, CSK could pay the same to Brevis and they did. So the final signing was completely within the book.

The Rulebook Is Clear

Clause 6.6 under “Replacement Players” makes it crystal: the replacement’s fee can equal but not exceed the injured player’s contract. CSK signing Brevis at INR 2.2 crore ticked all the boxes.

Similar cases have happened before: RCB bringing in Chris Gayle as a replacement, KKR snapping up Jason Roy in 2023 at INR 2.8 crore when his base price was only INR 1.5 crore. Nothing shady, just standard IPL protocol.

Why The Controversy Erupted?

So why the ruckus? The main issue was Ashwin’s phrasing. He said “extra money” without mentioning the exact figure CSK paid Brevis, which was public information. That missing detail gave room for speculation.

Social media jumped on it, painting a picture of under-the-table deals. CSK had to step in, issuing a clarification that everything was by the book.

Ashwin Clarifies Again

After CSK’s clarification, Ashwin uploaded another video, stressing that the IPL’s governing bodies approve every replacement. “If there was any fault here, the player would not have played,” he explained. The clarification put the lid on the matter but by then the controversy had already caught fire.

Not Ashwin’s First Brush With YouTube Drama

This isn’t the first time Ashwin’s channel has courted controversy. Last season, his show avoided covering CSK games after criticism from fans when a panellist questioned squad choices.

Now again, the Brevis episode saw him edit out the controversial part of the video. Adding fuel to the fire, his former teammate Anirudha Srikkanth slammed him on his father, K Srikkanth’s YouTube channel “Cheeky Cheeka”, saying it was “very, very wrong” for a current player to discuss a teammate’s contract in public.

The Conflict Of Interest Angle

Some critics also flagged a possible conflict of interest. A centrally contracted player, part of CSK, openly discussing contracts raised eyebrows. But the BCCI hasn’t cracked down on Ashwin’s YouTube work, even though in the past they stopped selectors from writing columns.

Conclusion

At the end of the day, CSK did nothing wrong. Brevis’ signing at INR 2.2 crore was legal and under the rules. The controversy was born out of a half-sentence, amplified by social media.

As the saying goes, “a slip of the tongue can spark a forest fire.” In this case, Ashwin’s words lit up the chatter, but the rulebook kept CSK safe.