Guwahati, March 30: Chennai Super Kings (CSK) will face Rajasthan Royals (RR) in their opening match of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026 on Monday, but they will do so without Dewald Brevis. The team’s head coach, Stephen Fleming, confirmed that Brevis suffered a side strain during training. Earlier, Mahendra Singh Dhoni was also ruled out for the first two weeks of the tournament due to injury. However, Fleming expressed confidence that the team can manage these challenges.
In a press conference at ACA Stadium on Sunday, Fleming stated, “Brevis is out for the upcoming match due to a side injury he sustained during training. He is currently in rehab, and CSK hopes he will return to fitness soon.”
Brevis’s absence adds to CSK’s injury woes. Fast bowler Nathan Ellis is already sidelined for the season, and former captain Dhoni is expected to miss the first two weeks due to a calf strain.
Reports suggest that Dhoni did not travel with the team to Guwahati and is focusing on his recovery in Chennai. Left-arm fast bowler Spencer Johnson, who has been brought in to replace Ellis, will join the team on April 21 as he is still recovering from a stress fracture in his back.
Fleming remarked, “We have a large enough squad to handle these situations, but this issue is not unique to us. In fact, our situation is still manageable. Other teams have faced even greater difficulties. I don’t believe any team has gone through this phase without injuries.”
He added, “There is a lot of cricket being played these days, and managing players, especially monitoring their physical condition when they join the team, is crucial. Therefore, it doesn’t just depend on how we operate, but also on the condition of the players when they arrive. After that, we either help them recover from injuries or work on maintaining their fitness.”
The head coach concluded, “I think this has become a part of modern cricket. There is a lot happening, and players are under immense pressure. The game is so intense and fast-paced that injuries have become common. We have a sufficiently large squad.”
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