RCB’s Long Drought at Chepauk: What Keeps CSK Ahead?

There aren’t many venues in the IPL that feel as daunting for an away team as the MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai. For the Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB), Chepauk has practically become a fortress they just can’t breach. Their last win here? You’d have to go back to May 2008—when the iPhone was still new and IPL itself was just beginning. In that game, defending only 126 runs, RCB pulled off a miraculous 14-run victory, thanks to a classic Anil Kumble spell and fierce pace from Dale Steyn. Since then, Chepauk has turned into their heartbreaker.

If you glance through the head-to-head stats, the gulf is clear. Out of 33 IPL matches, CSK has notched up 21 wins against RCB, leaving the latter with just 11. The imbalance is even starker in Chennai, where CSK’s win streak against RCB has stretched across almost two decades. Whenever RCB rolls into town, talk inevitably turns to their Chepauk curse—and for good reason. Sticky pitches, swarming crowds, and Dhoni-era memories have all played their part.

Highlights, Turning Points, and Why It’s So Hard for RCB

RCB snapped a bit of the recent narrative in IPL 2024 with a high-profile win that dashed CSK’s playoff hopes, but that came in Bengaluru—on their home turf. When the two sides met again at Chepauk for the 2025 opener, CSK shrugged off the previous result and coolly chased down their target with six wickets in hand. That’s typical CSK: absorb a punch, then adjust tactics for home advantage.

The challenge at Chepauk comes down to more than just home support. CSK have mastered the art of using slow, turning pitches to their benefit, building bowling attacks and batting orders that thrive under those exact conditions. Spinner-friendly tracks, backed by experienced heads like Ravindra Jadeja, and previously, the legendary MS Dhoni’s field control, make it a nightmare for teams like RCB, who often prefer batting tracks and fast outfields.

Even in March 2025, when RCB managed to break their recent Chepauk losing streak with a stunning 50-run win, the overall story didn’t really budge. CSK still holds the dominant head-to-head record, and the aura around Chepauk is far from shattered. One win doesn’t instantly erase 17 years of frustration.

Personal battles spice things up too. Players like Devon Conway have become new match-winners for CSK, while Virat Kohli almost always brings the fight for RCB, pushing both teams to find that extra gear during these grudge matches. Yet, the larger narrative keeps circling back to RCB’s repeated heartache on Chennai’s tricky pitches.

• CSK leads 21-11 in head-to-head IPL matches against RCB
• RCB’s last Chepauk win came in 2008
• CSK’s tactical home advantage keeps frustrating RCB
• Recent Bengaluru win shows RCB’s capability, but not at Chepauk

With every new IPL season, fans wonder: will RCB finally break the Chepauk jinx for good, or will CSK keep adding to their fortress lore? For now, Chennai’s slow-burn mastery at home continues to keep RCB guessing and grinding for that rare away triumph.