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After Chennai Super Kings’ (CSK) crushing 50-run loss to Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) on March 28, head coach Stephen Fleming admitted that Chepauk is no longer a fortress for CSK. The five-time champions struggled to adapt to the conditions, and Fleming acknowledged that the team has been unable to read the pitch properly in recent years.
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“No Home Advantage at Chepauk,” Says Fleming
Speaking to the media after the game, Fleming dismissed the idea that CSK enjoys a home advantage at Chepauk, emphasizing that the team has found it difficult to understand the changing nature of the pitch.
“As we’ve been telling you for a number of years, there is no home advantage at Chepauk. We’ve won away from home a couple of times, but we haven’t been able to read the wickets here for the last few years. We are trying to come to grips with each pitch, but we don’t know what to expect,” Fleming stated, as quoted by ESPNcricinfo.
Chepauk No Longer Favors Spinners
Historically, Chepauk has been a haven for spinners, and CSK built their IPL 2025 squad around that assumption. However, the surface hasn’t supported spin as expected. In IPL 2024, spinners managed only 25 wickets, while seamers claimed 74 scalps at the venue.
“It’s not the Chepauk of old where you can just play four spinners. We’re working hard to understand each pitch, and they are quite different,” Fleming explained.
Match Recap: RCB Outclass CSK in All Departments
Batting first, RCB posted 196/7, with skipper Rajat Patidar scoring a solid 51 off 32 balls, while Tim David finished the innings in style with three consecutive sixes in the final over.
Chasing 197, CSK faltered and could only manage 146/8 in 20 overs. Josh Hazlewood (3/21), Yash Dayal (2/18), and Liam Livingstone (2/28) dismantled the Chennai batting lineup.
CSK’s Miscalculation on Dew Factor
Fleming admitted that CSK had banked on dew to assist their chase, but the surface became tackier instead, making it difficult for their batters.
“No, we didn’t get it right. We thought the ball would skid on with the dew, but it actually got slower, making it even harder,” Fleming said.
CSK’s Approach Under Question? Fleming Responds
When asked about CSK’s lack of an ultra-aggressive batting approach, Fleming defended his team, saying that they have firepower throughout the lineup.
“Just because we don’t swing from ball one doesn’t mean we lack firepower. It’s a positive brand of cricket, and we’ll see at the end who wins it,” he said confidently.
Despite the big loss, CSK remains a strong contender in IPL 2025, and fans will be eager to see how the team adapts to changing conditions at Chepauk going forward.
