Chennai Super Kings (CSK) head coach Stephen Fleming expressed his disappointment candidly, stating that his team has "no home advantage" at Chepauk. This remark followed CSK's significant 50-run defeat to Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) in Match 8 of the 2025 IPL season at the MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai.

Fleming's mood was evidently affected by the loss, as he engaged in a tense exchange with a reporter who posed a question about the team's style of play.

Under the leadership of Ruturaj Gaikwad, CSK struggled to chase down a target of 197, ultimately falling short by 50 runs. This defeat marked RCB's first victory in Chennai since the tournament's inception in 2008.

During the post-match press conference, a reporter inquired, "In the first game, you successfully chased 156 runs in nearly 20 overs. Today, you managed only 146. While I understand this is your approach to cricket, do you believe it is becoming outdated?"

Fleming reacted sharply, asking, "What do you mean by my way of playing?" The journalist attempted to clarify, noting that other teams are aggressively scoring high runs.

However, the former New Zealand opener was not receptive to this line of questioning. He retorted, "You mention firepower. We possess firepower throughout our lineup. I fail to comprehend this question. Just because we don't attack from the first ball and rely on some fortune, look at the final outcome—who wins. It is a positive style of cricket. Do not underestimate us."

The dialogue continued as the reporter sought to clarify his stance, stating, "I am not discounting you." Fleming countered, "You kind of are. That’s a foolish question."

'CSK have no home advantage'

Stephen Fleming remarked that his team has struggled to interpret the pitches in Chennai for an extended period, leading him to conclude that there is no longer a "home advantage."

"For several years, we have maintained that there is no home advantage at Chepauk. We have secured victories away from home on a few occasions. We have been quite candid with you about our challenges," Fleming stated during the post-match press conference.

"We have found it difficult to read the wickets here over the past couple of years. This is not a new issue. Each day, we strive to adapt to the conditions we encounter, but there is still uncertainty. It is no longer the Chepauk of the past, where we could confidently field four spinners. We are putting in significant effort to comprehend the characteristics of each pitch, which have changed considerably," he continued.

In the 2024 tournament, the Chennai pitches did not favor spinners, a traditional strength of CSK. Last season, pacers took 74 wickets, while spinners managed only 25 at the venue.

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