Despite Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) losing all three of their home games so far in IPL 2025, batter Devdutt Padikkal believes their struggles at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium are more coincidental than concerning. In contrast, RCB have been impressive on the road, winning all five of their away matches and climbing to third place on the points table.
After contributing a crucial 61 off 35 balls in RCB’s seven-wicket win over Punjab Kings (PBKS) in New Chandigarh on Sunday, Padikkal said during the post-match press conference,
“To be honest, I think it’s just a coincidence that all our wins have come away from home. We’ve played some really good cricket throughout the tournament.”
He added, “I feel the team has gelled well, and that reflects in how we bounce back after a loss. It’s important to keep this momentum going and start winning at home too. The Chinnaswamy deserves some wins as well.”
Traditionally known for being a batting paradise, Chinnaswamy hasn’t seen the kind of high scores this season. RCB’s home totals so far include 169 for 8, 163 for 7, and 95 for 9 in a shortened 14-over match — all in defeats while batting first.
Padikkal, however, doesn’t believe the pitch is to blame.
“I don’t think the pitch is the issue. It’s about adapting quickly as a batting unit. That’s an area where we’ve fallen short, but that’s part of the challenge in a tournament like the IPL. We’ve got the experience and talent; now it’s about figuring out how to crack it at home.”
PBKS, on the other hand, have had mixed results at their home ground in New Chandigarh. Their first-innings scores have ranged from a commanding 219 for 6 against Rajasthan Royals to a meager 111 all out against KKR, which they still managed to defend. They have split their four games at the venue and will now shift their home matches to Dharamsala.
PBKS head coach Ricky Ponting assessed the New Chandigarh pitch as consistent but lacking in pace and bounce.
“Each wicket here has been slightly different, so it takes some time to adjust,” Ponting said.
Reflecting on Sunday’s match, he noted that PBKS were well-positioned at 62 for 1 after the powerplay but lost momentum due to regular wickets and a crucial run-out.
“We were aiming for around 180, which would have been a very competitive score, but we just couldn’t build partnerships after the early breakthroughs. That cost us the game.”
Despite their contrasting home fortunes, both teams remain in playoff contention, with RCB looking to break their Chinnaswamy curse and PBKS hoping for consistency in their new home venue.
