The Chennai Super Kings (CSK) faced a crushing 50-run defeat at the hands of Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) in their second match of IPL 2025. This loss at their fortress, MA Chidambaram Stadium, was their biggest home defeat in IPL history. While CSK captain Ruturaj Gaikwad cited poor fielding as the reason, head coach Stephen Fleming had a different take on the issue.
CSK’s Struggle on Home Turf: A Puzzling Pitch
Historically, the Chepauk pitch has favored spinners, helping CSK dominate at home. However, Fleming admitted that CSK has failed to read the pitch in recent seasons. In a post-match press conference, he revealed that the pitch conditions have become unpredictable, offering more assistance to pace bowlers rather than spinners.
“We have been very honest with you. We have not been able to read the pitch here for the last few years. It’s not the old Chepauk where you can play four spinners and dominate,” Fleming stated.
This year, the pitch seems to be behaving differently, giving RCB’s pace bowlers an edge over CSK’s spin-heavy attack.
RCB’s Dominance: Strategic Batting and Bowling
Winning the toss, CSK opted to bowl first, expecting to restrict RCB to a chaseable target. However, RCB’s batters put up an impressive 196/7 in 20 overs:
- Rajat Patidar led the innings with a solid 51 off 32 balls.
- Phil Salt (32 off 16) and Virat Kohli (31 off 30) gave the team a strong start.
- Tim David’s quickfire 22 off 8 balls in the final overs helped RCB reach a competitive total.
CSK’s Bowling Performance: Lacking the Cutting Edge
While CSK bowlers picked up wickets at regular intervals, they failed to control the run flow:
- Noor Ahmad (3/36) was the standout performer.
- Matheesha Pathirana (2/36) provided some breakthroughs.
- Khaleel Ahmed and Ravichandran Ashwin struggled to make an impact.
CSK’s Batting Collapse: A Nightmare Chase
Chasing 197, CSK’s batting unit faltered right from the start. The top-order collapse put immense pressure on the middle order:
- Rachin Ravindra (41 off 31) and MS Dhoni (30 off 16) were the only notable contributors.
- Captain Ruturaj Gaikwad fell for a duck.
- Josh Hazlewood (3/21) and Yash Dayal (2/18) ripped through CSK’s batting lineup.
- CSK finished at 146/8 in 20 overs, falling short by 50 runs.
Dew Factor: Did CSK Misread the Conditions?
Fleming also admitted that CSK was banking on the dew factor to help them chase down the target. However, the pitch turned “sticky” rather than offering the expected batting-friendly conditions.
“We thought the dew would help, but the pitch became slower and stickier instead, making shot-making difficult,” Fleming explained.
What’s Next for CSK?
This loss has raised concerns about CSK’s strategy, especially regarding their reliance on spinners in changing conditions. With more matches ahead, the team needs to reassess their game plan to bounce back in IPL 2025.
