Kamal Ghorui
Chennai Super Kings have begun their IPL 2026 campaign without two key players, with both MS Dhoni and Dewald Brevis unavailable for their opening clash against Rajasthan Royals in Guwahati.Brevis has been ruled out of the match due to a side strain, with head coach Stephen Fleming confirming that the young South African is currently undergoing rehabilitation. “He is rehabbing and hopefully won’t be for too long,” Fleming said on the eve of the game. His absence is a setback for CSK, given his ability to provide explosive firepower in the middle order.Dhoni’s absence, meanwhile, is part of a slightly longer-term concern. The former CSK captain is expected to miss the first two weeks of the tournament due to a calf strain. In recent years, Dhoni has already been managing knee issues while playing only in the IPL, but he has remained a constant presence in the side, even leading them to their fifth title in 2023. This time, however, CSK will have to navigate the early phase without him.With Dhoni unavailable, Ruturaj Gaikwad continues as captain, while Sanju Samson steps in as wicketkeeper and opener.The toss also reflected the conditions, with Rajasthan Royals opting to bowl first after rain in Guwahati left moisture in the surface. Both teams acknowledged the impact of the weather, but for CSK, the bigger challenge will be adjusting to life without two important players at the start of their campaign. Rajasthan Royals (Playing XI): Yashasvi Jaiswal, Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, Riyan Parag(c), Dhruv Jurel(w), Shimron Hetmyer, Ravindra Jadeja, Jofra Archer, Nandre Burger, Sandeep Sharma, Ravi Bishnoi, Brijesh SharmaChennai Super Kings (Playing XI): Sanju Samson, Ruturaj Gaikwad(c), Ayush Mhatre, Matthew Short, Shivam Dube, Kartik Sharma(w), Jamie Overton, Noor Ahmad, Matt Henry, Anshul Kamboj, Khaleel Ahmed
