Hop, Skip, and Stunner! CSK’s Dewald Brevis Snatches Jaw-Dropping Catch Amid IPL Heartbreak
In a season shrouded in disappointment for the Chennai Super Kings (CSK), a moment of pure brilliance lit up the MA Chidambaram Stadium on Wednesday night. South African sensation Dewald Brevis, often dubbed the ‘Baby AB de Villiers’, pulled off a gravity-defying catch that left fans and commentators alike in awe during CSK’s clash against Punjab Kings (PBKS) in the IPL 2025.
With CSK enduring a torrid campaign, Brevis’ acrobatic heroics in the field provided a rare highlight. In the 18th over, PBKS’ in-form batter Shashank Singh, who had already smashed a boundary and a six off Ravindra Jadeja, aimed for another maximum at deep mid-wicket. Enter Brevis. Patrolling the boundary, the 22-year-old displayed exceptional presence of mind. He sprinted towards the ball, made initial contact inside the ropes, lobbed it up as he crossed the boundary mid-air, flicked it back into play while airborne, and returned to complete the catch in breathtaking fashion. Social media erupted, with fans hailing it as the ‘catch of the season‘.
Brevis’ effort, however, couldn’t salvage CSK’s sinking ship. The MS Dhoni-led side suffered a heart-wrenching four-wicket defeat, officially becoming the first team eliminated from the IPL 2025 playoff race. This marks a historic low for the five-time champions, as they’ve now missed the playoffs in consecutive seasons for the first time in their storied history.
Batting first at their fortress, Chepauk, CSK managed a competitive 190, thanks to a blistering 88 off 47 balls from Sam Curran. The English all-rounder, walking in at a shaky 48 for 3, blasted nine fours and four sixes, stitching a crucial 78-run partnership with Brevis, who contributed a gritty 32. But the tides turned dramatically in the 19th over. PBKS’ ace spinner Yuzvendra Chahal, introduced late in the attack, delivered a game-changing spell. After being hit for a six by Dhoni, Chahal dismissed the CSK icon on the next ball and went on to claim a sensational hat-trick—his second in IPL history—removing Deepak Hooda, Anshul Kamboj, and Noor Ahmad in succession.
In reply, PBKS wobbled in the middle overs, losing key wickets including Shashank Singh (23) and opener Prabhsimran Singh. However, a composed finish from Shreyas Iyer and some fortune in the death overs saw them chase down the target in 19.4 overs, sealing CSK’s fate. While Brevis’ catch will be replayed for years, it couldn’t mask the agony of another lost season for the yellow brigade. As CSK fans look ahead, questions loom over the team’s strategy and rebuilding plans for the future. Can they rise from these ashes? Only time will tell.