\"CSK is hopeful he will be fit again soon,\" said Fleming in the pre-match press conference at the ACA Stadium on Sunday. Brevis\u2019 absence compounds CSK\u2019s injury woes - fast bowler Nathan Ellis has already been ruled out of the season, while former captain MS Dhoni is expected to miss the first two weeks of the competition due to a calf strain.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
It is understood that Dhoni has not traveled with the team to Guwahati and has stayed back in Chennai instead to focus on his recovery. Left-arm pacer Spencer Johnson, named as Ellis\u2019 replacement, is due to join the squad on April 21 as he continues his recovery from a back stress fracture issue.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
CSK endured a poor campaign in 2025, finishing at the bottom of the table with just four wins, and will be hoping for a turnaround in 2026. Brevis had impressed in his short stint last season after joining as a replacement player for Gurjapneet Singh, scoring 225 runs in six innings at a strike rate of 180, including 17 sixes. He was retained for this season and was widely tipped to play a key role in the middle order.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
It is understood that Dhoni has not traveled with the team to Guwahati and has stayed back in Chennai instead to focus on his recovery. Left-arm pacer Spencer Johnson, named as Ellis\u2019 replacement, is due to join the squad on April 21 as he continues his recovery from a back stress fracture issue.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Captain Ruturaj Gaikwad has confirmed he will open alongside Sanju Samson, which means Sarfaraz Khan and Urvil Patel can be other middle-order options till Brevis is declared fit.<\/p>\r\n\r\n