The MA Chidambaram Stadium, famously known as Chepauk, has been the fortress of Chennai Super Kings (CSK) for years — a ground where victories once felt inevitable. However, in IPL 2025, this very stronghold has turned into their greatest weakness. After Ruturaj Gaikwad's injury, MS Dhoni returned to captaincy, but even his leadership couldn't halt CSK's alarming slide. Their recent defeat to Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) added to a series of humiliating setbacks, leaving four major stains on CSK's otherwise proud record at Chepauk.
4 Big Stains on CSK at Chepauk This Season
CSK played five matches at their home ground this season but managed to win just one, losing four others in crushing fashion — each defeat marking a painful milestone:
- Defeat to RCB after 17 Years:
Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) stunned Chennai by defeating them at Chepauk for the first time in 17 years, ending a long-standing record. - Dominance of Delhi Capitals After 15 Years:
Delhi Capitals (DC) inflicted another painful blow by defeating CSK at Chepauk after a gap of 15 years. - Lowest Score at Chepauk:
CSK was bundled out for just 103 runs against Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) — their lowest total ever at their home ground. - Sunrisers Hyderabad Breakthrough:
Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) scripted history by beating CSK at Chepauk for the first time in IPL history.
Each of these defeats has left a deep wound on the team’s legacy at Chepauk — stains that will not be easily erased from memory.
Historical Wounds at Home
This season marked the first time ever that CSK has lost four consecutive home matches in a single IPL edition. In doing so, they equaled their record for the most home defeats in a season:
- 2008: Lost 4 out of 7 home matches.
- 2012: Lost 4 out of 10 home matches.
- 2025: Lost 4 out of 5 home matches — the most damaging ratio so far.
The numbers clearly show how Chepauk, once their bastion of strength, has now become a ground of heartbreak for the Super Kings.
Dhoni’s T20 Curse Continues
Adding to the pain, MS Dhoni’s unusual T20 "curse" has continued. Every 100th T20 match he has played has ended in defeat:
- 100th T20 Match (2011): Defeat
- 200th T20 Match (2015): Defeat
- 300th T20 Match (2019): Defeat
- 400th T20 Match (2025): Defeat
Despite his heroic efforts at age 43, even Dhoni could not turn the tide for CSK this season.
