South Africa’s young batting sensation Dewald Brevis has shared a heartwarming story of how he first met his idol
AB de Villiers. Brevis admitted that he was so nervous at the time that he could barely muster the courage to ask for a picture, but eventually, the meeting changed the course of his cricket journey.
Brevis, who made his international debut against Australia in August 2023 and has since represented his country in 14 matches across formats, has long been compared to de Villiers. His ability to play innovative strokes and his striking resemblance to the South African great have earned him the nickname ‘Baby AB’.
Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel. SUBSCRIBE NOW! Speaking to SuperSport, Brevis recalled spotting de Villiers at a restaurant while out with his family. “AB and his wife walked past us and I just froze. I wanted to ask for a picture but I couldn’t get the words out. Then his wife said, ‘AB, come for a picture,’ and that’s how I got my first photo with him,” Brevis said.
A few days later, Brevis got another chance at a school event. “Someone told us AB was at the school and we rushed to see him. I was still star-struck and could hardly say anything. As he was about to leave, I suddenly asked, ‘AB, you can say no, but can I please have your number.’ He gave it to me, and later I sent him a message just to thank him,” Brevis revealed.
That simple exchange turned into a lasting bond. With the world soon going into lockdown, Brevis and de Villiers stayed in touch, and what began as an idol-fan moment gradually evolved into a mentor-mentee relationship.
Catch Rani Rampal's inspiring story on Game On, Episode 4. Watch Here!The TOI Sports Desk excels in a myriad of roles that capture the ...
Read MoreThe TOI Sports Desk excels in a myriad of roles that capture the essence of live sporting events and deliver compelling content to readers worldwide.
From running live blogs for India and non-India cricket matches to global spectacles featuring Indian talents, like the Chess World Cup final featuring Praggnanandhaa and the Badminton World Championships semifinal featuring HS Prannoy, our live coverage extends to all mega sporting events. We extensively cover events like the Olympics, Asian Games, Cricket World Cups, FIFA World Cups, and more.
The desk is also adept at writing comprehensive match reports and insightful post-match commentary, complemented by stats-based articles that provide an in-depth analysis of player performances and team dynamics.
We track news wires for key stories, conduct exclusive player interviews in both text and video formats, and file content from print editions and reporters. We keep track of all viral stories, trending topics and produce our own copies on the subjects.
We deliver accurate, engaging, and up-to-the-minute sports content, round the clock.
Read Less
Start a Conversation
Post comment