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Chennai Super Kings (CSK) suffered their biggest defeat in the history of IPL at their own fortress, Chepauk stadium, when Royal Challengers Bengaluru got the better of Ruturaj Gaikwad's men by 50 runs on March 29, Friday. It was CSK's first home defeat against RCB since way back in 2008. While many teams these days are all about explosive starts, aiming for scores that push the boundaries of what we once considered high, CSK have seemingly opted for a more cautious and orthodox batting approach which many consider outdated. Their game plan appears to be about building an innings gradually, picking up the pace as things progress.
Stephen Fleming's strong retort to reporter on being questioned about CSK's outdated batting approach
However, the same batting approach served them well in their match against Mumbai Indians, where they successfully chased down a target of 156. However, the dynamic shifted when RCB posted a daunting 196-run target. In this instance, CSK struggled to maintain the required run rate. Losing wickets early on put them on the back foot, and the ever-increasing pressure of the required runs ultimately contributed to their batting order unraveling.
Following the match, CSK's batting strategy became a point of discussion for many. Meanwhile, CSK head coach Stephen Fleming was quizzed about CSK's outdated batting approach by a reporter. The question didn't sit well with Fleming as he came out with a strong response.
"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 I know this is your way of playing cricket, but do you think it's kind of getting outdated?"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 during the post-match press conference.
"What do you mean by my way of playing?" Fleming reacted.
In response to the reporter's question, Fleming didn't hold back. He firmly countered the suggestion that CSK's strategy was outdated simply because they weren't adopting an aggressive, swing-from-the-first-ball approach. He directly addressed the reporter, urging them not to underestimate the capabilities of the Chennai Super Kings.
"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," Fleming added.
The reporter further said, "I am not discounting you."
"You sort of are. Silly question," replied Fleming.
Adding another layer to the conversation, Fleming also brought up the team's experience at their home ground in Chepauk. He stated that CSK haven't been able to leverage a typical home advantage, pointing to their difficulty in accurately assessing the nature of the pitches at their own venue.
"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 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," Fleming concluded.
CSK started their IPL 2025 campaign with a stunning win over Mumbai Indians at the Chepauk stadim before going down to RCB in their second outing on the same venue. Ruturaj Gaikwad-led side will next take on Rajasthan Royals (RR) on March 30 at the Barsapara stadium.
