Problems ahead of IPL opener: South African Dewald Brevis to miss Chennai Super Kings' first match

Chennai Super Kings are facing squad headaches ahead of the 2026 Indian Premier League season opener. South African batter Dewald Brevis will miss the team's first match against the Rajasthan Royals due to a side strain, according to espncricinfo.

Head coach Stephen Fleming confirmed that Brevis is currently undergoing rehabilitation and is not expected to be sidelined for long. Still, this is another blow to the squad right before the tournament gets underway.

The situation is further complicated by Nathan Ellis being ruled out for the entire season due to injury, while legendary MS Dhoni is likely to miss the first two weeks of the tournament with a calf issue. Additionally, new signing Spencer Johnson will only join the squad in the second half of April as he continues his recovery.

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Brevis, who joined Chennai Super Kings last season, quickly proved himself as a powerful middle-order player. In six innings, he racked up 225 runs at an impressive strike rate of 180, smashing 17 sixes and becoming a key part of the team's attacking arsenal.