'He is a great leader on and off the field': Dewald Brevis heaps praise on MI skipper, Rohit Sharma

Dewald Brevis grabbed the cricketing world's attention in 2022, mainly through his exploits in the U19 World Cup in West Indies and then in the 15th edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL). 

Popularly dubbed as the 'Baby AB', Brevis was picked up in the IPL mega-auction by Mumbai Indians (MI). The young Protea batter certainly did not disappoint in his first-ever IPL season, as he did put on a couple of impactful performances. 

Although Brevis was not a part of the playing XI on a regular basis, yet it was a great learning curve for the youngster. The 19-year-old was grateful for his time with MI this season and lavished praise on skipper Rohit Sharma.

"As a player I couldn't have asked for a better captain. He backed me and supported me as a young player. He allowed me to be myself and go out there and enjoy the game," Brevis said, as quoted by NDTV.

The ‘Hitman’ has led Mumbai Indians to five IPL titles, and as such, he is not doubting his captain ability. 'Baby AB' revealed that the veteran batter strives to bring the best out of everybody and touched upon his role outside the playing field. 

"He is a captain that wants the best out of everybody. I think he is a great leader on and off the field. There is so much to learn from his captaincy and knowledge of the game. He is an exceptional captain," Brevis added.

The Ambani-owned franchise had one of their worst ever IPL seasons in 2022, where they finished at the bottom of the points tally. The most successful franchise could manage to collect just four wins from their 14 games. Despite the setback, the U19 World Cup sensation was all praises for the atmosphere in the MI dressing room. 

"The MI team atmosphere was amazing on and off the field. There was always lots of fun, laughter and bonding between everyone in the MI family. It is such a great honour for me to be part of MI. They made me feel part of the family. I felt so welcome and comfortable in this team. I could be myself in front of everyone," Brevis added.

The Jo'burg-born scored 161 runs in seven games this season, at an impressive strike rate of over 140. The South African batter timed the ball to perfection and is certainly a player to watch out for in the coming years.