Virat Kohli openly targeted by CSK Head Coach Stephen Fleming Before IPL 2025 Match

Chennai Super Kings coach Stephen Fleming opened up about Royal Challengers Bengaluru’s possible over-reliance on Virat Kohli ahead of the highly anticipated IPL 2025 clash on Friday, March 28, at the MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai.

Virat Kohli is currently playing his 18th IPL season with Royal Challengers Bengaluru, and he has been a key player since his debut in 2008 after winning the Under-19 World Cup.

The dashing right-hander started the IPL 2025 season with 59* against Kolkata Knight Riders and played a key role in RCB’s seven-wicket victory over the defending champions at the Eden Gardens last week.

Virat Kohli set for another memorable outing against CSK

Now, the former Indian skipper is all set to face Chennai Super Kings (CSK) in their second IPL 2025 match on Friday at the MA Chidambaram Stadium. Kohli has a solid record against CSK, scoring 1,053 runs in 33 matches at an average of 37.61, including 9 half-centuries to his name.

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As CSK prepares to take on RCB at their home, questions have been raised about whether the Bengaluru franchise is overly dependent on Kohli and their captain, Rajat Patidar, in the batting department. Reacting to the notions, Fleming said it’s too early to judge after just one game, especially since both teams have seen changes from last year.

CSK aims to silence Virat Kohli in IPL 2025 clash against RCB: Stephen Fleming

The CSK coach has stressed that the five-time IPL champions are not focusing on past performances, but admitted that Kohli remains a major part of their plans. Fleming believes that keeping Kohli and Patidar under control will be crucial for CSK’s chances to beat RCB in Chennai.

Stephen Fleming said at the pre-match press conference, “It's really hard to comment after just one game. The RCB and CSK from last year are quite different. We don't look into past performances."

"Certainly, looking at their team, Virat Kohli is a big part of it. But they have strength in their team, like most franchises do. The competition is pretty even this year. If we keep him and Patidar quiet, then it will help us to win.”

Since playing conditions can affect any game and Chennai usually prefers spin-friendly pitches at the MA Chidambaram Stadium, the CSK head coach said that adaptability will be key, as the team faces different pitches throughout the tournament.

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Fleming further explained, “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.”

However, he refused to reveal much about Matheesha Pathirana's injury or the chances of including Vijay Shankar and Andre Siddharth in the playing XI, but hinted that CSK is unlikely to make big changes in the winning combination since they won their last game against the Mumbai Indians.

The CSK head coach signed off by saying, “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.”