Dewald Brevis has described joining Chennai Super Kings (CSK) as the "best decision ever," while reflecting on a vital piece of advice from MS Dhoni on balancing confidence and overconfidence. The South
African batter, who initially signed with CSK as a replacement player, shared how the franchise's environment and Dhoni's leadership have immensely shaped his growth. Brevis moved to Chennai Super Kings during the 2025 IPL season as an injury replacement for Gurjapneet Singh. Reflecting on his journey with the franchise, he expressed deep gratitude for the transition.
"The best decision ever to come as that replacement player to Chennai. I don't even look back. It's just been amazing & I've learned a lot about myself, my game here. The city of Chennai is also amazing. I really enjoy it", he said to ANI.
Brevis noted that the love he receives from Chennai fans every time he walks out to bat is a feeling "hard to describe" and something he cherishes deeply. He credits the move with helping him learn more about himself and adapt his batting style. After a strong 2025 stint where he scored 225 runs across six games, Brevis has continued to deliver under pressure, including a fiery 44 off 27 balls against Sunrisers Hyderabad and a 57 off 23 balls against Gujarat Titans.
Dewald Brevis on MS Dhoni: [ANI] "One of the best advices I got from MS Dhoni was my first year actually of IPL & I wasn’t yet at Chennai but he told me ‘you get two sides, you get overconfidence and confidence, and just be more on the side of confidence' and that has been the… pic.twitter.com/FXWEWxLl6a
— Johns. (@CricCrazyJohns) May 20, 2026
Dewald Brevis reveals MS Dhoni advice that changed his mindset
The advice regarding the fine line between confidence and overconfidence did not actually start in the CSK dressing room. Brevis revealed that the conversation happened back in 2022, his rookie year in the IPL when he was still contracted to the Mumbai Indians. Dhoni pulled the teenager aside during a post-match interaction. He explained that a young powerhouse batter often struggles with mental boundaries. Dhoni famously told him to always "err on the side of confidence" rather than tumbling over into reckless overconfidence.
“One of the best advices I got from MS Dhoni was my first year actually of IPL & I wasn’t yet at Chennai but he told me ‘you get two sides, you get overconfidence and confidence, and just be more on the side of confidence' and that has been the one piece of advice that really stuck with me from him"
Dewald Brevis said "The best decision ever to come as that replacement player to Chennai. I don't even look back. It's just been amazing & I've learned a lot about myself, my game here. The city of Chennai is also amazing. I really enjoy it". [ANI] pic.twitter.com/Qe0WwR1aSw
— Johns. (@CricCrazyJohns) May 20, 2026
Brevis has faced public critiques about his shot selection, moving across his stumps too early, and hunting for "no-look" boundary shots. He stated that Dhoni's baseline rule helped him balance his natural aggression with strategic awareness, keeping him grounded when T20 situations shift rapidly. Unless he is catching up on sleep, Dhoni keeps his door open to young cricketers like Brevis to talk casually about life, gaming, or match preparation. This lack of hierarchy inside the squad completely erased Brevis's intimidation, allowing him to absorb tactical knowledge fluidly.
