Chennai Super Kings got a small boost ahead of their first home game of IPL 2026, as MS Dhoni and Dewald Brevis were seen training in the nets at Chepauk on April 3.
Both players had missed the opening match against Rajasthan Royals due to injuries. Dhoni is dealing with a calf strain, while Brevis is recovering from a side strain. Their return to practice is a good sign, but their availability for the Punjab Kings clash remains unclear.
CSK had a tough start to the season. They were bowled out for just 127 in their opener, a total that Rajasthan Royals chased down in only 12.1 overs. The heavy defeat also hurt CSK’s net run rate early in the tournament.
In Brevis’ absence, CSK tried a different combination. Matthew Short was slotted in at No. 4, while Sarfaraz Khan came in as an impact substitute after the top order collapsed under pressure.
Injury Concerns Continue
While Dhoni’s presence in the nets grabbed attention, he has officially been ruled out for at least two weeks. A clearer update on his fitness is expected around day 13 of his recovery period.
Brevis’ situation is slightly better, but still uncertain. CSK captain Ruturaj Gaikwad admitted there is no clear update yet.
“He’s taken off today, so I’m not really sure. Yesterday, we didn’t have a chat,” Gaikwad said during the pre-match press conference.
CSK now face a confident Punjab Kings side, who come into this match after beating Gujarat Titans in their opener. The challenge does not end there, as CSK will travel quickly to Bengaluru to face Royal Challengers Bengaluru on April 5.
With a tough schedule ahead and key players still not fully fit, CSK will need to find the right balance quickly. The return of Dhoni and Brevis, even if only to training, offers hope, but the team still has big decisions to make before the PBKS game.