Dewald Brevis: The Next AB de Villiers? Allan Donald Sees Superstar Potential in Fearless South African Batter

Former South African pacer Allan Donald said Dewald Brevis shows shades of AB de Villiers but has built his own identity as a batter. Nicknamed Baby AB, Brevis grabbed attention with a stunning 125 off 56 balls against Australia in Darwin last month, notching the highest T20I score by a South African.

At just 22, the innings highlighted his rare ability to take on world-class attacks. In domestic cricket too, Brevis has impressed, scoring over 2,500 T20 runs at a strike rate above 150, along with four centuries in first-class cricket. While comparisons with de Villiers are natural because of their similar styles and close bond, Donald reminded that AB’s achievements remain unmatched.

What excites Donald most about Brevis is his fearless approach and ability to turn matches on his own, making him one of South Africa’s brightest young batting talents.

“He’s very close to AB de Villiers and has been coached by him, so naturally, there are similarities. But a lot of people say you can’t compare Dewald Brevis to AB, and that’s true. What AB achieved can only ever belong to him. But this kid has the talent to win games from nowhere.

“He has already shown it domestically and now on the biggest stage, scoring a hundred against a top-quality Australian side. His talent and execution are undeniable,” Donald said while responding to India Today’s query in a media table interaction facilitated by SA20.

‘Brevis can become absolute superstar’

Earlier this month, Dewald Brevis became the most expensive player in SA20 history when the Pretoria Capitals bought him for R16.5 million at the 2026 auction, surpassing Aiden Markram’s previous record of R14 million.

Donald, who claimed 602 wickets in his illustrious international career, praised Brevis, saying he has the potential to achieve what few batters can and emerge as a major force in limited-overs cricket.

“Of course, there will only ever be one AB. But Brevis mirrors his mannerisms so closely that it almost feels like watching a clone. Why not have a hero like AB to inspire you? Brevis can do things most batters can’t. He’s that kind of player,” Donald said.

“As the years go on, we’ll see how he develops across formats. He’s keen on playing Test cricket, but in the shorter formats, especially white-ball cricket, he has the potential to become an absolute superstar. There’s no doubt about it,” Donald added.

In 11 T20Is so far, Brevis has scored 341 runs at an average of 37.88 and a strike rate of 193.75. He enjoyed an excellent run in the Indian Premier League 2025, scoring 225 runs from six games at a strike rate of 180. It was after delivering match-winning knocks for CSK that Brevis shifted gears in his career.