Chennai Super Kings are enduring yet another rough opening to their IPL campaign in 2026, having lost their first three matches to sit rock-bottom on the points table. Their latest setback came on Sunday against Royal Challengers Bengaluru, extending CSK’s early-season struggles and leaving them searching for stability. In the aftermath, head coach Stephen Fleming signalled that the next few days could be pivotal, particularly with Dewald Brevis’ fitness in focus.
Quick facts
- CSK lost all three of their opening IPL matches in 2026 and remain bottom of the table.
- Stephen Fleming spoke after the Sunday defeat to Royal Challengers Bengaluru.
- Brevis missed the first three CSK matches due to a side strain.
- CSK have a five-day gap before their next game at home against Delhi Capitals.
- Fleming said CSK are being “conservative” and are hoping Brevis is ready for the next fixture.
- On match day, Brevis faced throwdowns for close to 20 minutes and did not appear to be in visible discomfort.
- He also joined training ahead of CSK’s previous home game versus Punjab Kings, facing throwdowns before fielding drills.
- Last season, Brevis joined as a replacement player and scored 225 runs in six innings at a strike rate of 180.
- Brevis has been retained for 2026, and CSK are expected to use him in the middle order once fit.
- CSK used two overseas players at home vs Punjab and three overseas players vs Bengaluru earlier.
Brevis has been sidelined since picking up a side strain, missing CSK’s opening trio of matches. With the schedule offering a breather of five days before their next outing—an evening at home against Delhi Capitals—Fleming suggested the franchise is closely monitoring his progress and timing his return carefully.
Speaking at the Chinnaswamy Stadium on Sunday, Fleming made it clear that CSK are hopeful the South Africa batter will be available for the next game. He said the team are working with caution over the coming days, aiming to ensure the injury concerns settle and Brevis comes back ready to contribute. Fleming’s message was that while the absence is a blow, the coaching staff are counting down to getting him back in the mix.
Brevis’ return timeline and match-day work
On the eve of the Bengaluru clash, CSK players did not complete a full training session. Even so, Brevis was put through a controlled routine on match day, facing throwdowns for nearly 20 minutes with assistant coach Rajiv Kumar overseeing the work. During the session, the batter largely defended the incoming balls and did not show any obvious signs of discomfort.
After that close-range batting spell, Brevis joined the rest of the squad for football activities, keeping his involvement steady without pushing the body through a heavier workload. The approach reflected CSK’s careful handling of his fitness amid the short-term demands of IPL match schedules.
Brevis also trained with the broader group ahead of CSK’s previous home fixture against Punjab Kings last week. In that session, he was present at one of the side nets, but the batting portion focused on throwdowns only, before he moved on to fielding drills with the unit.
How Brevis became a key piece
Brevis joined the Chennai camp last season as a replacement player, and he quickly made an impact despite the broader campaign ending disappointingly for the former champions. In six innings, he struck 225 runs at a strike rate of 180, adding momentum when CSK needed batting bursts most. That season ultimately saw Chennai finish at the bottom of the table for the first time in an IPL edition.
For 2026, Brevis has been retained, and once he is fully fit, CSK will look to slot him into the middle order to restore balance. In the earlier home match against Punjab Kings, the team used just two overseas players, while against Bengaluru they featured three overseas players—highlighting how central overseas selection and batting structure can be to CSK’s day-to-day planning.
With the next match against Delhi Capitals coming after a five-day window, CSK’s immediate focus is simple: get Brevis back in rhythm and ensure his return does not come at the cost of further strain. Fleming’s comments point to a measured plan—conservative during the build-up, then decisive once the batter is deemed ready for the next game.
