Injured South African batter likely to regain fitness after missing first three IPL 2026 matches due to side strain

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Chennai Super Kings (CSK) head coach Stephen Fleming has expressed optimism over Dewald Brevis’ return to action, hinting that the South African batter could be available for the upcoming IPL 2026 clash against Delhi Capitals (DC) on April 11.

Brevis, who has been sidelined with a side strain, missed CSK’s first three matches of the season. However, with a crucial five-day break between their recent fixture against Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) and the upcoming home game, the team management is hopeful about his recovery.

Speaking during the CSK vs RCB match, Fleming stated that Brevis is “not far away” from match fitness. He emphasized that the team has taken a cautious approach to his rehabilitation and is optimistic that the additional recovery time will help the young batter return fully fit.

The 20-year-old showed encouraging signs on match day, spending around 20 minutes facing throwdowns from assistant coach Rajiv Kumar. He appeared comfortable during the session and later participated in a light football game with teammates, indicating steady progress in his recovery.

In the lead-up to the Punjab Kings (PBKS) fixture, Brevis also took part in practice sessions, including batting at the nets and fielding drills. However, his involvement remained limited as CSK prioritized his fitness.

Brevis was a standout performer for CSK in IPL 2025 after joining as a replacement player. Despite the team’s struggles last season, he impressed with 225 runs in six innings at an explosive strike rate of 180, including 17 sixes in just 125 balls.

Retained for IPL 2026, Brevis is expected to strengthen CSK’s middle order once he returns. His absence has been felt, especially as CSK fielded only two overseas players against PBKS and three against RCB.

CSK have had a challenging start to the season, losing their first three matches after finishing at the bottom of the table last year. The potential return of Brevis could provide a much-needed boost as they aim to turn their campaign around against Delhi Capitals.