Stephen Fleming attacks journalist; threatens him openly in Press Conference after CSK vs RCB

The atmosphere at the iconic MA Chidambaram Stadium turned tense as Chennai Super Kings head coach Stephen Fleming unleashed his frustration following his team’s humiliating 50-run defeat against Royal Challengers Bengaluru in the IPL 2025 match on March 28.

Fleming dismissed the notion of having any home advantage at the iconic MA Chidambaram Stadium, leaving fans and experts stunned. Chasing a 197-run target, CSK crashed to 146, handing RCB their first victory in Chennai since the first edition of the IPL back in 2008.

The embarrassing defeat has not only shattered Chennai Super Kings’ spirits but also ignited a heated exchange during the post-match press conference on Friday. Things turned fiery when a reporter dared to question CSK’s brand of cricket, which might be outdated in today’s fast-paced game.

Tempers flare as Stephen Fleming defends CSK’s playing style in a heated exchange

The reporters asked, “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 I know this is your way of playing cricket, but do you think it's kind of getting outdated?”

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Fleming's temper flared as he shot back, refusing to accept any criticism of the team's playing style. The CSK coach responded angrily, “What do you mean by my way of playing?” The journalist then tried to explain that other teams were going all out and scoring big runs.

This didn’t go down well with the New Zealander as he fiercely defended the five-time champions’ firepower, dismissing the notion that they lacked aggression or intent. He fired back by insisting that just because they don’t attack from the first ball doesn’t mean their approach is outdated.

Don't discount us: CSK coach after shocking loss to RCB

Stephen Fleming angrily said, “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.”

However, the reporter tried to explain his point, insisting he wasn’t underestimating the team, but Fleming wasn’t having it and shot back, calling it a silly question.

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Meanwhile, Stephen Fleming admitted that CSK has struggled to read the pitches at Chepauk for a while now, so it is hard to claim any home advantage. He pointed out that the conditions have changed over the years, and the team has been working hard to figure out the unpredictable nature of the wickets.

Stephen Fleming admits Chepauk pitch woes, says 'no home advantage for CSK'

Stephen Fleming signed off by saying, “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.

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.”

Notably, Chennai Super Kings will play their next IPL 2025 game against the Rajasthan Royals on March 30, and then they will face Punjab Kings on April 5.