The Cricket Bulletin: Major Talking Points | March 30, 2026

Dewald Brevis to miss the opening match for CSK

Dewald Brevis is going to miss the opening match of Chennai Super Kings (CSK) in the IPL 2026. CSK coach Stephen Fleming confirmed the development on the eve of the match. CSK are scheduled to face Rajasthan Royals (RR) on March 30 (Monday) at Guwahati to start their IPL 2026 campaign. Fleming said, “He is rehabbing and hopefully won’t be for too long.”

Brevis’ absence means another concern for CSK as they are already without fast bowler Nathan Ellis for the entire season. MS Dhoni, on the other hand, is likely to miss the first two weeks of IPL 2026 because of calf strain. Ellis’ replacement Spencer Johnson is yet to arrive too. In the absence of both Dhoni and Brevis, Kartik Sharma and Prashant Veer, could debut for CSK.

Shardul always tries to outsmart a batter: Hardik Pandya

Shardul Thakur marked his long-awaited Mumbai Indians (MI) debut with a magical 3/39 that helped his team win their first match of IPL 2026. His match winning performance at Wankhede also earned him the Player-of-the-Match award against Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR). Speaking of his excellence with the ball, Mumbai captain Hardik Pandya called him brilliant.

“I told him [Shardul] this season, enough hopping of franchises. I want you to be here for the rest of your career,” MI captain Hardik Pandya revealed at the post-match presentation. “He’s a character, he has a big heart. The way he comes out and always tries to outsmart a batter, it’s simply brilliant. Really happy for him.”

Lahore Qalandars players accused of a breach of “security protocols”

Lahore Qalandars have been accused by Punjab police of a “serious breach of established security protocols” after four unauthorised visitors entered the hotel where the Qalandars team was staying. As per a letter written by a deputy police inspector to the PSL CEO Salman Naseer, Qalandars captain Shaheen Shah Afridi and team-mate Sikandar Raza were blamed for “disregarding directives” and “forcefully escorting” them to a player’s room where they stayed for approximately three hours.

According to ESPNcricinfo Qalandars head of media, Umar Farooq said, “We are aware of an incident involving two Lahore Qalandars players, and are in communication with the PSL over the matter.”