Chennai Super Kings (CSK) head coach Stephen Fleming admitted that his team no longer benefits from home advantage at the MA Chidambaram Stadium. His statement came after CSK’s 50-run loss against Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) in the IPL2025 season. Despite playing on their home turf, CSK, led by Ruturaj Gaikwad, struggled to chase 197 runs and collapsed at 146. Consequently, RCB secured their first win in Chennai since 2008.

Fleming Clashes with Reporter Over CSK’s Batting Approach

During the post-match press conference, a journalist questioned CSK’s batting strategy. He asked, "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 I know this is your way of playing cricket, but do you think it's kind of getting outdated?" At first, Fleming seemed irritated. He quickly responded, "What do you mean by my way of playing?" The journalist explained that other teams were attacking from the start, scoring heavily. However, Fleming strongly disagreed. He stated, "You talk about firepower. We have 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." As the reporter attempted to clarify, he said, "I am not discounting you." Even so, Fleming firmly replied, "You sort of are. Silly question."

Fleming: No Home Advantage for CSK

Furthermore, Fleming revealed that CSK has struggled to read the Chepauk pitch in recent seasons. "We’ve told you for years, there is no home advantage at Chepauk. We’ve won away from home a few times. And we haven't been able to read the wickets here," he said. Moreover, he added, "We are trying to understand the pitch every day, but we don’t know what to expect. This is not the old Chepauk where we could play four spinners. We are working hard to figure out the conditions, but they are different."

CSK’s Spin Strength Declines

Traditionally, CSK has relied on spin-friendly conditions at Chepauk. However, in 2024, the pitch did not favor spinners. In fact, pacers took 74 wickets, while spinners managed only 25. As a result, CSK now faces the challenge of adapting to changing home conditions while competing at their best.