"Just want to be the original.." Dewald Brevis shrugs off the "Baby AB" tag after maiden T20I ton

Dewald Brevis slammed 125* against Australia in the second T20I in Darwin.

Dewald Brevis was tagged as the ‘Baby AB’ ever since he wowed the cricket fans with his amazing hitting abilities in the U19 World Cup for the South Africa team. A striking likeness exists between the right-handed batter and former Proteas captain AB de Villiers.

Brevis can hit the ball anywhere he wants to, just like AB de Villiers. The youthful star from the Chennai Super Kings (CSK) is a true 360-degree player. Comparisons to AB de Villiers are therefore unavoidable. But, Brevis has now promised to be unique.

However, he has seemed to shun that tag of ‘Baby AB’ thanks to his 125* in 56 balls as he led South Africa to a brilliant win over Australia in a recent T20I match in Darwin.

‘The main thing is to be the original Dewald.’- Dewald Brevis on getting rid of the ‘Baby AB’ tag

After the victory in Darwin, Brevis told reporters that he decided to be unique and not be like anybody else in December 2024. Brevis batted and had a strike rate of 223.21, hitting 12 fours and 8 sixes during his innings.

“I believe God blessed me with a talent to play like that, to play aggressively. Last year, on 28 December, I made that commitment. I got a few people; they know who they are and who I trust, and the main thing was just to be the original Dewald and to be on that side of it and every ball, wherever it is, to watch it and to hit it,” Brevis said, according to ESPNCricinfo.

“I’ve always believed that this is where I need to be and where I will be, so I never had any doubt or anything,” he said. “It’s all about cricket, how things work out. It is a roller coaster; you have your ups, you have your downs, but I have never ever doubted myself. I would have loved to be here earlier, but that’s all a part of your journey, and that’s what makes you stronger. That’s why I’m here now,” he added.

Brevis has played two tests, scoring 84 runs with one fifty, and in nine T20Is, has 265 runs with one century, with a strike rate of 189.28. In 102 T20s, Brevis has 2438 runs with a strike rate of 154.01 with two centuries and 10 fifties.

Brevis’ 125 is the highest score in T20I by a South African and was the second fastest ton by a Proteas in the format.

“This is just the start, if I could say it like that. I just want to keep working hard and doing the same things, and the next match is the next match. So this 100, I can enjoy it now, think a bit about it, watch it maybe, but then when the next match comes, it’s completely a new match and anything can happen,” said Brevis.

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