IPL 2025: Chepauk offers no home advantage to CSK?

Chennai Super Kings endured a heavy defeat at their home as Royal Challengers Bengaluru won their first match at Chepauk since 2008. The fortress breach is an elemental moment for RCB, which came rather seamlessly in the CSK vs RCB IPL 2025 match. The fixture had much hype behind it, amplified by the IPL 2024 last league stage battle between the southern giants. The rivalry intensified after RCB kicked CSK out of playoff contention last year. Now, the team has won two consecutive fixtures against the five-time champions, imposing a newfound domination over CSK. The latest match at Chepauk saw no fight from the CSK batting order in the chase. A late charge by MS Dhoni, who came out at No. 9 to bat, reduced the margin of defeat. However, the defeat at home has stung the management and the fans alike.

Stephen Fleming fumes in the post-match presser after defeat in the CSK vs RCB IPL 2025 match

CSK head coach Stephen Fleming addressed the press after his team's 50-run defeat in the CSK vs RCB IPL 2025 match. Some dropped chances and the sublime form of Phil Salt and Rajat Patidar led to RCB smashing a 196-run total after being put to bat first by CSK captain Ruturaj Gaikwad. The chase fumbled right at the beginning for CSK as they lost three wickets in the powerplay itself. Rachin Ravindra tried to fight but fell alone with no support from the other end. MS Dhoni showed a glimpse of his batting brilliance, but it was of no help with the former captain coming as low as No. 9 in the batting order. While it's just the start of the season, CSK needs to address a lot of loopholes to hope for a likable finish.

Meanwhile, the coach has offered a rather puzzling wrap-up of the situation. According to Fleming, CSK is finding it difficult to read the Chepauk pitch. The nature of the surface, thus, dashes any "home advantage" for the team. Interestingly, Chepauk is regarded as one of the strongest fortresses in the IPL, with spin being touted as the key element behind the success. CSK playing a spin-heavy arsenal at home suggests that the team knows its strength.

"Well, as we've been telling you for a number of years, there was no home advantage at Chepauk. We've won away from home a couple of times. And we haven't been able to read, we've been really honest with you," said Fleming about the Chepauk pitch.

"We haven't been able to read the wickets here in the last couple of years. So, it's not new. We are trying to come to grips each day with what we get, and we don't know. It's not the Chepauk [of old] where you can just go in and play four spinners. We're having to work really hard to try and understand what the nature of each pitch is, and it's quite different," he added.

Meanwhile, Stephen Fleming was clearly not in a great mood, refuting any questions about the game. The head coach didn't react calmly to the query about CSK playing "outdated" cricket in IPL 2025. The back-and-forth between the reporter and Fleming concluded with the coach calling it a "silly question" on the reporter's part.

"In the first game, you chased 156 in almost 20 overs. Today, you scored 146. I know this is your way of playing cricket, but do you think it's kind of getting outdated?" the reporter asked Fleming in the post-match presser.

"What do you mean by my way of playing? You talk about firepower. We have got firepower all the way through. I don't understand this question. Just because we don't swing from ball No. 1 and have some luck go our way, just see the end, who wins it. It is a positive brand of cricket. Don't discount us."

When the journalist tried to reason and quipped that he was not discounting them, Fleming retorted with a fiery, "You sort of are. Silly question."