Chennai Super Kings (CSK) received a massive confidence boost before their first home fixture of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026 season. Middle-order batters Dewald Brevis and MS Dhoni, who were ruled out of their season opener, returned to the practice nets at the M. A. Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai.
Dhoni missed the opening match against Rajasthan Royals (RR) due to a severe calf strain. The wicketkeeper-batter didn’t travel with the squad to Guwahati after CSK confirmed that he would be ruled out for two weeks. Brevis missed the opener with a side strain, leaving CSK’s middle order fragile and inexperienced.
MS Dhoni, Dewald Brevis Return to Nets Ahead of PBKS Clash in IPL 2026
Ahead of their crucial match at Chepauk, captain Ruturaj Gaikwad remained noncommittal about both players. When asked specifically about Dewald Brevis during the pre-match press conference, Gaikwad admitted that he didn’t have an update.
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However, Brevis batted in a separate nets facility with absolutely no visible physical discomfort during the practice session, according to a report by Cricbuzz.
“He’s taken off today, so I’m not really sure. Yesterday, we didn’t have a chat,” Gaikwad said.
When questioned regarding the rehabilitation progress of MS Dhoni, Gaikwad chuckled and stated that an official medical update would arrive around the 13th day of his recovery period. Dhoni walked out and smashed several throwdowns deep into the stands.
CSK Struggle Without MS Dhoni and Dewald Brevis in IPL 2026 Opener
The dependence on MS Dhoni was evident during their opening defeat. Chennai Super Kings collapsed against Rajasthan Royals and managed to post just 127 runs. Without their experienced finisher, the middle order crumbled under pressure against the Royals.
In the absence of Dewald Brevis, Chennai Super Kings gave Australia all-rounder Matthew Short an opportunity at No. 4. They also brought in middle-order batter Sarfaraz Khan as an Impact Player after an early top-order collapse.
Sanju Samson handled the primary wicketkeeping duties, while young keeper Kartik Sharma made his IPL debut. Ruturaj Gaikwad and Samson opened the innings, while Ayush Mhatre, who opened last season, batted at the No. 3 position.
All Eyes on MS Dhoni’s Availability Ahead of PBKS Clash
All eyes are on the upcoming match against Punjab Kings, set to take place on Friday, April 3. The possibility of MS Dhoni featuring in the playing XI remains the biggest talking point. However, the management will be cautious, as rushing a senior player back from a calf injury carries the risk of aggravation.
Chennai Super Kings have another match soon after the Punjab Kings fixture. They will quickly travel to face the defending champions, Royal Challengers Bengaluru.
This highly anticipated clash will take place at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium on Sunday. The five-time IPL champions will need to manage the workload of injured players carefully to keep them fit.
