SA20: Dewald Brevis keen to start 'new chapter' in his hometown after record price tag

Brevis grew up and fell in love with the game watching cricket on the grass banks at the venue in Centurion before graduating and representing his provincial side, the Titans, in South African domestic cricket.

The 22-year-old has however called Newlands his home in the three previous seasons of the SA20, helping MI Cape Town to their first ever title earlier this year.

Brevis told SA20: "You always reflect and I think it was a special three years I had with MI. We've had our ups, and we had our downs, and it was amazing what we did in the last year. I'll always remember that. 

"But this is a new chapter for me. To be with Pretoria, I'm super excited. It is my hometown.

"I know Supersport Park (Centurion) very well. It's very close to my heart, that ground. That's where me and my brother, we grew up watching cricket, running around the field, playing next to the field. So, to be able to be there, I'm really excited."

Tristan Stubbs previously held the record as the most expensive player in SA20 after being bought by Sunrisers Eastern Cape for R9.2 million ahead of the inaugural season.

Durban's Super Giants then broke the mark recent auction when splashing R14 million on Aiden Markram before that mark too was shattered by the Capitals' bid on Brevis just 12 minutes later.

The hard-hitting batter is determined not to let the magnitude of the record price tag affect him with the fourth season of the tournament set to get underway on 26 December.

Brevis added: "I don't think I will change. I'll remain the same. I'm not going to change who I am as a person. I'm just playing to enjoy it, playing for God, and I think just always to have fun and to enjoy it, to play with a smile."

He is looking forward to meeting up with his new teammates, and believes the Capitals have the quality to go all the way after missing out on the playoffs the last two seasons.

The franchise had already the secured services of West Indies duo Sherfane Rutherford and Andre Russell before also signing Proteas internationals Lungi Ngidi, Keshav Maharaj and Lizaad Williams among others at the auction.

Brevis continued: "I can't wait to see the team, get together with them and just make memories and have fun. I think it's great. It's great to have Lungs ( Ngidi) there. I think we've had a lot of time we spent together.

"It started in Bangladesh, so we've got good memories. Lizzie (Lizaad Williams), a lot of our local guys, I'm so happy for Connor (Esterhuizen) as well. He's a great player. He'll do great for us."If you look at all the overseas, I think we've got a good balanced team, strong batting line-up, power-hitters, guys that would love Supersport Park. If you look at Rutherford and Andre Russell.

"So yes, I think it's great. It's a great all-round team. I'm very excited to just see how the boys go and how they enjoy playing there because it's a beautiful place to bat and to play cricket."

READ MORE: Ex Proteas Women star Claire Terblanche praises CSA