Chennai Super Kings have been dealt another injury setback ahead of IPL 2026, with Dewald Brevis ruled out of their opening match against Rajasthan Royals in Guwahati on March 30 due to a side strain. Head coach Stephen Fleming confirmed the development on the eve of the fixture, adding to the franchise’s growing list of injury concerns at the start of the season.
“Brevis is out. He had a side injury during training. So again, he is rehabbing,” Fleming said when a specific question related to Brevis’ injury was put forth.
“It would be a game without him. But he’s still heavily involved in the side. So, he’s got obviously an injury that we’re getting right, rehabbing. But his influence is still very strong. Hopefully it won’t be too long (before he is back),” he said.
Brevis is expected to miss the first two to three matches, leaving a gap in CSK’s middle order. The South African batter was retained for INR 2.20 crore after an impressive IPL 2025 campaign, in which he scored 225 runs in six matches at an average of 37.50 and a strike rate of 180, including two half-centuries.
He had joined as a mid-season injury replacement for pacer Gurjapneet Singh last year and emerged as one of the few bright spots in an otherwise difficult season for CSK.
CSK are already without fast bowler Nathan Ellis, who has been ruled out of the entire season due to injury. Veteran wicketkeeper-batter MS Dhoni is also set to miss the first two weeks of the tournament with a calf strain.
The franchise has named Spencer Johnson as Ellis’ replacement, but the left-arm pacer is still recovering from injury and is expected to join the squad only around April 21-23.
Brevis recently featured for the South Africa national cricket team in the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026, where he scored 207 runs in eight matches at a strike rate of 146.80. South Africa were knocked out in the semi-finals by the New Zealand national cricket team.
After finishing bottom of the table in 2025 with four wins, CSK head into the new season looking to reset, but early injuries have complicated their start.
