R16.5m man Brevis is a gamechanger, says Pretoria Capitals coach Ganguly

Pretoria Capitals coach Sourav Ganguly has hailed new Betway SA20 R16.5 million record-signing Dewald Brevis as “a tremendous talent”. 

Ganguly was intent to bring the Pretoria-born Brevis back home to Centurion after the dashing Proteas middle-order batter spent the past three seasons at MI Cape Town. 

“I am very happy. I think he is a very good player,” Ganguly said. 

“Obviously, leaving aside the R16.5 million, he is a great talent but just in terms of the quality on our pitch, our ground … I hope he does well. I think he is a tremendous talent.”

The former India captain was impressed with Brevis’ form on the recent tour of Australia where the 22-year-old smashed the South African T20I record with a blistering 125 not out off 56 balls in the second T20I in Darwin. 

“He has really gone forward in the last year and a half. We saw him against Australia in Australia. He is a gamechanger. He plays spin well. That’s what you need in T20 cricket. 

“We have (Andre) Russell and Sherfane Rutherford who can really steam it up. I hope he does well. I never relate performance to money.”

The Capitals have also purchased World No 1 ODI bowler Keshav Maharaj (R1.7 million) along with Proteas seamer Lungi Ngidi (R2.3 million).

Young Connor Esterhuizen also benefited from being involved in a bidding war to be bought for R3.2 million. 

The Capitals also beefed up their seam attack with England internationals Craig Overton (R1 million) and Saqib Mahmood (R1.5 million) along Proteas debutant Codi Yusuf (R225 000).