Chennai Super Kings have started their IPL campaign today against RR but without the likes of star players MS Dhoni and Dewald Brevis.
Brevis has been ruled out due to a side sprain which is not that serious as stated by Stephen Fleming that he is currently in a Rehabilitation center and his recovery won’t be taking that long. Brevis not playing might take CSK a step back because he can be explosive in the middle order. Whereas Dhoni might be a bigger concern as he is out for two weeks for injury and CSK might be missing his services in the first phase.
Today the match reflected the same issue. CSK vs RR meet in the 3rd match of IPL 2026. RR won the toss and opted to bowl hoping to utilize the powerplay to strike down as many CSK batsman as possible. They have pacers Jofra Archer and Nandre Burger, tailored to exploit early pace-friendly conditions. CSK on other hand although doesn’t have Dhoni playing for them but have a heavy top order batsman who can go explosive.
Sanju Samson, the newly added in the CSK team is in red hot form after his heroics in the concluded T20 World Cup, so he was expected to go all guns blazing with captain Ruturaj Gaikwad. Also youngster Ayush Mhatre has a good name to attack in powerplay.
But things overturned as RR made plans and took wickets of the Top 3 in powerplay with dominance. Jofra Archer and Nandre Burger, with their fire spell crafted an early collapse, restricting CSK in the Powerplay, posing a mammoth total.The fourth one Mathhew Short to fall to Sandeep Sharma making CSK’s total as to 41/4 in powerplay which is quite below par score. In 10 overs they have lost 6 wickets exposing the middle order too.
But no worries CSK Fans, as per news Dewald Brevis will join the quad on 5th April just before the CSK vs RCB high voltage game and hope so he can provide the boost that CSK currently needs!
