Baby AB title is a big burden to carry: Glenn Maxwell dissects Dewald Brevis's rise

India Today

13 hours ago

Australia all-rounder Glenn Maxwell has weighed in on Dewald Brevis's rise, saying the young South African has had to carry the weight of expectation that comes with being called 'Baby AB.'Brevis, just 22, has long been compared to AB de Villiers, a nickname that followed him from his Under-19 days. As quoted by Yahoo News, Maxwell admitted the tag was more of a burden than a blessing, given how quickly the youngster was thrown into the international spotlight.advertisement'It's a pretty heavy burden he had to have early in his career,' Maxwell said. 'He probably got fast-tracked a little bit into the South African side. He's gone away, worked on his game, and he's come back playing beautifully. His bat swing is really pure—he's hard to stop when he gets going.'
Brevis's recent form has been nothing short of spectacular. In the second T20I against Australia, he hammered a breathtaking and unbeaten 125 off 56 balls, laced with 12 fours and eight sixes. The knock, which came at a strike rate of 223, powered South Africa to 218/7 and helped seal a 53-run win. It was also the fastest T20I century ever by a South African, surpassing a record previously held by Virat Kohli against the same opposition in 2022. That knock catapulted Brevis up the ICC T20I charts, climbing 80 places to reach 21st position with a career-best 614 rating points.Brevis's journey hasn't been smooth. After making an eye-catching start with Mumbai Indians, a slump in form saw him struggle for consistency and eventually part ways with the franchise. But IPL 2025 gave him a fresh start with Chennai Super Kings. Signed as an injury replacement for Rs 2.2 crore, Brevis scored 225 runs in six matches at a strike rate of 180, including two half-centuries that reminded fans of his fearless style.Now with two Tests and 10 T20Is under his belt, Brevis is in contention for South Africa's ODI squad against Australia. No longer weighed down by the 'Baby AB' tag, he looks ready to carve out his own identity in world cricket.- Ends