From Chepauk to Eden Gardens: Does home advantage even exist in the IPL? | Cricket News – The Times of India

Chennai Super Kings’ Matheesha Pathirana and teammates have fun the dismissal of Punjab Kings’ Nehal Wadhera throughout their IPL 2025 match at MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai on Wednesday. (ANI)

NEW DELHI: No matter the sport, the idea and thought of home advantage makes a distinction to a workforce. There is a way and cheap argument behind the thought: the home workforce understands the situations, understands the floor, has vehement fan help and these elements could make a distinction between profitable and shedding.
The phenomenon holds true throughout sports activities and was the issue behind Barcelona’s monumental 38-recreation profitable streak at home in the UEFA Champions League, a run that spanned seven years. It was additionally a central issue behind Oklahoma City Thunder topping the NBA Western Conference in 2024-25 as they stitched a 35-6 win-loss file at home – the greatest in the league.
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But when it comes to cricket, although, the idea of home advantage will get a bit of foggy.

Sure, India had a run of 18 consecutive Test sequence gained at home, a run that started in 2013 and was shattered by New Zealand final yr. During that jaw-dropping feat, India gained 42 matches, misplaced 4 and drew six. The Men in Blue additionally maintain the file for the longest home streak in T20Is, going 17 sequence unbeaten from 2019 to now.

Some of the elements that tip the scale in direction of the home aspect in worldwide cricket are: familiarity with the stadiums and the situations; data of the pitch and talent to dictate issues; capability to stick with pals/household as an alternative of inns and final, however not the least, backing of a passionate crowd.
But these elements do not essentially maintain true when it comes to franchise T20 leagues akin to the Indian Premier League (IPL). With native, Indian and worldwide gamers making up the squads, most of these elements are nullified.
HOME RECORD IN IPL 2025

Yet, there are the likes of Chennai Super Kings and Mumbai Indians who’ve sturdy home information. CSK made Chepauk their fortress with 72 wins out of 113 performed, a win-loss file of 1.800. Then there are fellow 5-time IPL champions MI who’ve gained 68 of 115 home matches, a win-loss file of 1.478.
This yr, although, CSK have had a yr to overlook – in basic and at home. On April 25, as they went down to Sunrisers Hyderabad, it accounted for his or her fifth defeat at MA Chidambaram Stadium. They’ve by no means misplaced extra at home in a single season.
After their thumping in opposition to Royal Challengers Bengaluru on March 28, coach Stephen Fleming argued they are not getting any ‘home advantage’.

“Well, as we’ve been telling you for a number of years, there was no home advantage at Chepauk. 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.”
The gripe with home floor is not new and Fleming actually wasn’t the solely voice that had criticism for the curators. Ajinkya Rahane, Zaheer Khan and Chandrakant Pandit all questioned the lack of help for home groups from the curators. Cricketer-turned-commentator Simon Doull went to the extent of suggesting that defending champions KKR ought to transfer away from the Eden Gardens if the curator does not pay heed.
KKR’s home file this season hasn’t been nice. They’ve performed 5 at Eden Gardens, profitable only one and shedding three with one getting rained off. With two home matches remaining, and IPL playoff probabilities on the line, they’d hope for a flip in fortunes beginning Sunday in opposition to Rajasthan Royals.
TEAMS AT HOME IN IPL 2025

The guidelines, nonetheless, do not permit franchises to dictate the situation of the floor. As franchises solely take the grounds on mortgage from the BCCI, they haven’t any say on how the floor must be ready.
“A BCCI curator is not accountable to any franchise. There is no clear guidelines as such from the BCCI also,” a supply shut to developments on the floor instructed TimesofIndia.com. “There’s been no meeting of curators since long (time).
“The franchise(s) do love to put blame on the curators. Instead of blaming the curators, they need to see the high quality of cricket they’re taking part in.

“The franchises play at a certain venue for two months but forget that entire year there is a BCCI tournament (different age-groups) are happening. If not BCCI then state association play their leagues, conduct camps and other stuff.
“The curators are following the pointers that has been made by former BCCI chief curator Daljit Singh three many years in the past…,” added the supply.
CSK AT HOME IN IPL 2025

Gujarat Titans COO Colonel Arvinder Singh questioned the point of the discussion around surfaces when the rules are crystal clear.
“The guidelines of the recreation are very clear and they’re frequent for everyone. No franchise has any proper to say, ‘I need this sort of a pitch’. That’s not one thing that the guidelines permit you to do,” he instructed TimesofIndia.com.
“The home advantage has to stem from the proven fact that that’s your home. You are supposed to know these situations higher than anyone else who’s coming as a result of that’s the place you play most of your video games, the place you observe. So from that perspective, in the event you’re a home advantage, effectively, why not? You deserve all the home advantage that you would be able to take.

“To say that I need home advantage because I want this kind of a pitch. Sorry, I don’t think that cuts any ice with anybody,” he added.
Then there are query marks over the ethics of the sport if the surfaces are skewed in direction of a sure workforce or sure model of play.
“What’s the point of playing if the conditions are just going to be the same?,” questioned South Africa and Gujarat Titans seamer Kagiso Rabada in an unique dialog with TimesofIndia.com.

This IPL season, in the 50 matches performed till Mumbai Indians’ win over Rajasthan Royals at the Sawai Mansingh Stadium in Jaipur on May 1, solely 20 had been gained by the home aspect. Of the remaining matches, 28 have gone the visiting workforce’s means with one, between Delhi Capitals and Rajasthan Royals being determined in a Super Over, and one match getting washed out.
There’s nonetheless some matches to go earlier than the IPL 2025 playoffs kick in however this yr will not be a one-off in seeing home sides battle. During IPL 2023, of the 74 matches, 29 had been gained by the hosts whereas 44 went the away aspect’s means. And then in IPL 2022, there have been 34 home wins and 40 away wins throughout the 74 matches.
Conversely, IPL 2018 adopted the reverse script. In the 60 matches that season, 38 had been gained by home groups and 22 by the guests. The steadiness was tipped final yr as effectively with 42 home wins and 29 away wins in 72 matches.