Following Chennai Super Kings' (CSK) acquisition of South African batter Dewald Brevis as an injury replacement in the 2025 Indian Premier League (IPL), veteran Indian off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin made comments that have stirred considerable discussion. Ashwin's remarks, made on his YouTube channel, suggested that CSK may have paid Brevis more than his base price to secure his services, potentially exceeding the standard fee for a replacement player.

Ashwin stated that Brevis was in high demand and that negotiations likely occurred between the player's agent and the franchise, possibly leading to an agreement where Brevis would receive an additional sum beyond his base price. He implied that other teams might have backed out due to their unwillingness to meet Brevis's financial demands. Ashwin elaborated that Brevis might have sought extra compensation, believing a strong performance in the IPL 2025 season would significantly increase his value in future auctions.

These comments ignited speculation about whether CSK had potentially circumvented IPL regulations in their pursuit of Brevis. In response to the widespread discussion, CSK issued an official statement to clarify the situation. The franchise firmly stated that all actions taken during the signing process of Dewald Brevis as a replacement player were fully compliant with IPL rules and regulations.

CSK specifically cited clause 6.6 of the IPL Player Regulations 2025-27, which pertains to "Replacement Players," confirming that Brevis was signed in accordance with these guidelines. The statement also noted that Brevis was signed for a league fee of INR 2.2 crore as a replacement for the injured Gurjapneet Singh, who had been acquired for the same amount at the IPL 2025 Player Auction.

Following CSK's clarification, Ashwin addressed the situation again, acknowledging the necessity to clarify "even true stories" in the current media landscape. He emphasized that injury replacements are common in the IPL and that teams often utilize the flexibility within the rules to their advantage. Ashwin also lauded Dewald Brevis's talent and recent performances, praising CSK for securing the player during his prime form. He highlighted Brevis's impressive batting in a recent T20I against Australia, where he scored a century, further solidifying the view that CSK made a valuable acquisition.

Despite the controversy, Ashwin commended CSK's decision to sign Brevis, recognizing his potential impact on the team. He noted that Brevis had previously been with the franchise but was now returning at the right time in his career. Ashwin's initial comments prompted CSK to issue a clarification to ensure transparency and reassure fans that the team adhered to all IPL regulations during the signing of Dewald Brevis.