CSK vs RCB, IPL 2025: ‘Don’t Look at Past Performances’ – Stephen Fleming Believes Contest is Even This Season

Chennai Super Kings (CSK) head coach Stephen Fleming emphasized the evenly matched nature of this year's competition ahead of the IPL 2025 meeting with Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) at the MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai on Friday (March 28).

CSK has been unbeaten in the last eight matches at home against RCB. However, Fleming downplayed past performances and acknowledged the changes both teams have undergone since last season when speaking ahead of the CSK vs RCB clash on Thursday (March 27).

"Things change quite quickly. The RCB from last year, the CSK from last year are quite different. We don't look at all into past performances. Certainly looking at their team, Kohli is a big part of it, but they've got other strengths as well. The competition is really even this year," Fleming stated, according to CSK website.

With playing conditions always a factor in any game and Chennai opting for spin-friendly tracks at the Chepauk, the CSK head coach admitted that adaptability will be key as the team navigates different pitches throughout the tournament.

"It's difficult, we don't have much influence on what comes up. Each pitch has a different characteristic so we'll work really hard to work out what'll work and what we have and try to get us pretty well equipped for all conditions, because that's been the key here," he explained.

Asked about the availability of Sri Lankan seamer Matheesha Pathirana and the potential inclusion of local players Vijay Shankar and Andre Siddharth, Fleming remained tight-lipped, indicating that CSK is unlikely to make drastic changes to the lineup.

"It's only been one game and one game we won, so we're not a team that tinkers that much. Pathirana is progressing nicely," Fleming added on the fitness of young pacer and possible changes to the winning combo.

In their season opener, spinner Noor Ahmad's 4/18 followed by a gritty 65* from Rachin Ravindra steered Chennai Super Kings to a four-wicket win against Mumbai Indians at the Chepauk last weekend. CSK will look to make their home a fortress again and aim for another win against RCB.