Chennai Super Kings Face Setback with Dewald Brevis Out for IPL Opener

Chennai Super Kings face a major challenge as Dewald Brevis is ruled out of their IPL 2026 opener against Rajasthan Royals due to a side injury. His absence is a significant blow to the team's strategy, especially with upcoming matches against strong opponents. CSK's head coach Stephen Fleming provided updates on Brevis's condition, expressing hope for a quick recovery. This news comes alongside the absence of MS Dhoni, adding to the team's challenges as they aim for a successful start to the season. Read on for more details about the playing XI and impact players for both teams.

By Narendra Chaudhary Mar 30, 2026, 19:46 IST

Dewald Brevis Misses IPL 2026 Opener

The Chennai Super Kings (CSK) have suffered a significant setback as Dewald Brevis will not be part of their lineup for the opening match of the 2026 Indian Premier League (IPL) season against the Rajasthan Royals (RR) at Barsapara Stadium in Guwahati. Brevis' absence is particularly impactful for the five-time champions, who are looking to kick off the season with a victory. His dynamic middle-order batting has been crucial to CSK's revamped strategy.

Brevis is sidelined due to a side injury sustained during training, although it is reported to be minor. This raises concerns about his availability for upcoming key matches against the Punjab Kings on April 3 and the Royal Challengers Bengaluru on April 5. CSK's head coach, Stephen Fleming, confirmed in a press briefing, “Brevis is out. He had a side injury during training. He is rehabbing. Hopefully, he won’t be out for too long.”

After going unsold in the 2025 IPL mega auction, Brevis was brought on board by CSK as an injury replacement for Gurjapneet Singh, with a contract worth ₹ 2.2 crore. He made a remarkable impression by scoring 225 runs in eight matches at an impressive strike rate of 180.00, including two half-centuries. Since joining CSK, Brevis has made waves in international cricket for South Africa, becoming one of the top middle-order batsmen in T20 formats, even scoring a century in the SA20 final this year.

Brevis is not the only notable absence for CSK, as legendary wicketkeeper-batter MS Dhoni is also missing from the squad.

Chennai Super Kings Playing XI: Sanju Samson, Ruturaj Gaikwad(c), Ayush Mhatre, Matthew Short, Shivam Dube, Kartik Sharma(w), Jamie Overton, Noor Ahmad, Matt Henry, Anshul Kamboj, Khaleel Ahmed

CSK Impact Player Options: Sarfaraz Khan, Prashant Veer, Rahul Chahar, Gurjapneet Singh, Ramakrishna Ghosh

Rajasthan Royals Playing XI: Yashasvi Jaiswal, Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, Riyan Parag(c), Dhruv Jurel(w), Shimron Hetmyer, Ravindra Jadeja, Jofra Archer, Nandre Burger, Sandeep Sharma, Ravi Bishnoi, Brijesh Sharma

RR Impact Player Options: Donovan Ferreira, Lhuan-dre Pretorius, Ravi Singh, Sushant Mishra, Tushar Deshpande