Dewald Brevis and MS Dhoni hit the nets ahead of Chennai Super Kings’ first home fixture in the Indian Premier League (2026). CSK, who lost their season opener to Rajasthan Royals in Guwahati, will host Punjab Kings at the MA Chidambaram Stadium on April 3.
It is not yet clear whether Brevis and Dhoni, who missed the previous encounter due to fitness concerns, will participate in the fixture or not. However, the duo’s return to the nets is a positive sign nonetheless, as the team struggled aplenty against the Royals, managing an unimposing 127, which the opponents gunned down in just 12.1 overs with eight wickets left, consigning the five-time winners to a net-run-rate denting defeat.
It emerged that Dhoni will miss at least two weeks of action with a calf strain, while Brevis was understood to be ruled out of only the clash against Royals due to a side strain.
Ahead of the clash against PBKS, CSK skipper Ruturaj Gaikwad could not confirm the availability of either of the two.
"He's taken off today, so I'm not really sure. Yesterday, we didn't have a chat," Gaikwad said about Brevis during the pre-match press conference.
Later, Brevis was seen in a separate nets facility, batting with no visible discomfort. CSK included Matthew Short at No. 4 in Brevis’ absence, while Sarfaraz Khan was called in as the impact substitute following a top-order collapse.
As for Dhoni’s rehabilitation, Gaikwad said that an update could be expected on the 13th day as the wicketkeeper-batter is ruled out for at least two weeks. However, Dhoni was seen facing throwdowns in the nets just before CSK’s practice session concluded.
CSK’s Friday rivals are coming on the back of a convincing three-wicket win over Gujarat Titans in their season opener in Mullanpur. CSK, who registered their first-ever wooden-spoon finish in IPL history last season, will have a short turnaround after the April 3 encounter against Punjab Kings, as they will take on defending champions Royal Challengers Bengaluru at the Chinnaswamy Stadium on Sunday (April 5) in a marquee clash.
