3 AB de Villiers’ IPL Records Dewald Brevis Could Break Next Season

Dewald Brevis, also known as Baby AB, made headlines on the international stage during the second T20I against Australia, smashing 125* off just 56 balls. The 22-year-old lit up the match with 12 fours and eight sixes, becoming the youngest South African to score a T20I century - something even his idol AB de Villiers never managed in his 78-match T20I career.

While de Villiers didn’t enjoy the same level of success in T20Is, he is still regarded as one of the greatest players in Indian Premier League (IPL) history. The South African legend spent many seasons with Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB), winning fans over with his explosive batting, 360-degree shot-making, and unmatched ability to turn games around single-handedly.

Brevis began his IPL journey with the Mumbai Indians (MI) in 2022, playing 10 matches without fully showcasing his potential. But things took a dramatic turn in IPL 2025 when Chennai Super Kings (CSK) signed him as a replacement player after he went unsold in the auction. Seizing the opportunity, Brevis hit  225 runs in just six matches at an average of 37.50 and a blistering strike rate of 180, proving he now belongs at the highest level.

In this article, we look at three AB de Villiers’ IPL records Brevis could break next season.

Most Sixes In An IPL Season

De Villiers hammered 251 sixes in his IPL career, with a personal best of 37 in the 2016 season. Brevis, despite playing only six matches last year, cleared the ropes 17 times, hitting a six every 7.4 balls on average. 

Since returning to the South African T20I side in July 2025, he has smashed 20 sixes in just seven matches. If he plays a full IPL 2026 season and bats in the top five, Brevis has the power and consistency to surpass ABD’s record of 37 sixes in a single season.

Fastest IPL Century By AB de Villiers

De Villiers scored three centuries in his IPL career, with his quickest coming off 43 balls against Gujarat Lions in 2016. Brevis showed his own blistering pace when he brought up his century against Australia in Darwin off just 41 deliveries, despite being on 14 off 12 balls at one stage. 

He already has a 35-ball T20 hundred for Titans in the CSA T20 Challenge 2022/23. If he fires from the start in one of the matches in IPL 2026, breaking ABD’s fastest IPL century would be well within his reach.

IPL Season With A 180+ Strike Rate

Surprisingly, de Villiers never finished an IPL season with a strike rate above 180, with his best being 175.1 in 2015. Brevis, however, is a natural power-hitter who can maintain a strike rate well over 180 across a full season. 

He operated at exactly 180 in IPL 2025 despite limited matches, and his T20I strike rate currently sits close to 190. With a longer run in the side, Brevis could become one of the few batters to score 400–500 runs in a season at such a high tempo.