Chennai Super Kings (CSK) did not just lose to Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB). They looked short in every department. Three defeats in a row now, and suddenly the early part of their season has forced them to tweak their plans. Unfortunately for them, CSK lost two of their most influential players before the season opener. MS Dhoni and Dewald Brevis. It stood out how incomplete this side has looked without MS Dhoni and Dewald Brevis. One brings control, the other brings chaos. Right now, CSK have neither.
There is some timely relief, though, ahead of their next game against Delhi Capitals at Chepauk. As reported by The Indian Express, Dhoni is expected to undergo a fitness test in the next couple of days, and if he comes through it, he should be available for Saturday’s match. Brevis, too, is close to returning after missing the opening games.
Dhoni’s return could bring order back to CSK
Dhoni has been out since picking up a calf injury during the preparatory camp. He has not travelled with the team for away games and was not present at the stadium during the Punjab Kings fixture either. But he has not been completely out of the picture. Dhoni has been training regularly, spending long hours batting in the nets at the MAC B ground and the main square. Those sessions have been without visible discomfort, which suggests he is not far away.
CSK have been careful with him, and that is understandable. But the way their batting has drifted in his absence, it is hard to ignore how much they need him back. Dhoni provides brains. That anecdote of ‘Ek tha jo stumps ke peeche se game badal deta tha’ will return.
Ruturaj Gaikwad has not got going, the middle order has not settled, and the finishing has been non-existent. Dhoni might not bat long, but he still sets the tone in those final overs.
Brevis adds the missing edge in the middle overs
Brevis’ absence has hurt in a different way. He was expected to be that middle-overs enforcer, someone who can shift momentum quickly.
The South African picked up a side strain before the season and has not played yet. He has travelled with the squad, but CSK have held him back until he is fully fit.
Head coach Stephen Fleming admitted after the RCB loss that Brevis is close. “We hope he is going to be right for the next game. We have five days between the next game. We have been conservative and hopefully, these next five days go as well as we have planned, and he is ready to go. It’s a big loss but we are looking forward to getting him back,” he said. That would be a big boost. Last season, Brevis struck at 180 and gave CSK that burst of scoring they often rely on in the middle phase.
Please read this to know CSK’s negatives and positives so far at IPL 2026.
CSK full schedule for IPL 2026
| Date | Home | Away | Venue | Time | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 30/03/2026 | Rajasthan Royals | Chennai Super Kings | Guwahati | 19:30 | Loss |
| 03/04/2026 | Chennai Super Kings | Punjab Kings | Chennai | 19:30 | Loss |
| 05/04/2026 | Royal Challengers Bengaluru | Chennai Super Kings | Bengaluru | 19:30 | Loss |
| 11/04/2026 | Chennai Super Kings | Delhi Capitals | Chennai | 19:30 | TBD |
| 14/04/2026 | Chennai Super Kings | Kolkata Knight Riders | Chennai | 19:30 | TBD |
| 18/04/2026 | Sunrisers Hyderabad | Chennai Super Kings | Hyderabad | 19:30 | TBD |
| 23/04/2026 | Mumbai Indians | Chennai Super Kings | Mumbai | 19:30 | TBD |
| 26/04/2026 | Gujarat Titans | Chennai Super Kings | Ahmedabad | 15:30 | TBD |
| 02/05/2026 | Chennai Super Kings | Mumbai Indians | Chennai | 19:30 | TBD |
| 05/05/2026 | Delhi Capitals | Chennai Super Kings | Delhi | 19:30 | TBD |
| 10/05/2026 | Chennai Super Kings | Lucknow Super Giants | Chennai | 15:30 | TBD |
| 15/05/2026 | Lucknow Super Giants | Chennai Super Kings | Lucknow | 19:30 | TBD |
| 18/05/2026 | Chennai Super Kings | Sunrisers Hyderabad | Chennai | 19:30 | TBD |
| 21/05/2026 | Chennai Super Kings | Gujarat Titans | Chennai | 19:30 | TBD |
CSK squad for IPL 2026
Ruturaj Gaikwad (C), MS Dhoni, Sanju Samson, Dewald Brevis, Ayush Mhatre, Kartik Sharma, Sarfaraz Khan, Urvil Patel, Anshul Kamboj, Jamie Overton, Ramakrishna Ghosh, Prashant Veer, Matthew William Short, Aman Khan, Zak Foulkes, Shivam Dube, Khaleel Ahmed, Noor Ahmad, Mukesh Choudhary, Spencer Johnson, Shreyas Gopal, Gurjapneet Singh, Akeal Hosein, Matt Henry, Rahul Chahar.
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