NEW DELHI: No matter the sport, the concept and the idea of home advantage make a difference for a team. There is a meaning and a reasonable argument behind the idea: the home team includes the conditions, includes the surface, has support for vehement fans and these factors can make a difference between winning and losing.
The phenomenon is true in sports and has been the factor behind the barcelona monumental victories sequence of 38 home games in the UEFA Champions League, a race that lasted seven years. It was also a central factor behind Oklahoma City Thunder at the head of the west conference of the NBA in 2024-25 when they sewed a 35-6 victory record at home-the best of the league.
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But with regard to cricket, however, the concept of home advantage becomes a bit misty.
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Of course, India experienced a series of 18 series of consecutive tests won at home, a race that started in 2013 and was broken by New Zealand last year. During this breathtaking feat, India won 42 games, lost four and fired six. Blue’s men also hold the record for the longest sequence of T20is houses, going 17 undefeated series from 2019 to now.
Some of the factors that switch the scale to the local team in international cricket are: familiarity with stages and conditions; Knowledge of the height and the ability to dictate things; Ability to stay with friends / family instead of hotels and the last, but not the least, of the support of a passionate crowd.
But these factors are not necessarily true with regard to franchise T20 leagues such as the Indian Premier League (IPL). Local, Indian and international players making up the teams, most of these factors are canceled.
Home record in IPL 2025
| Team | Matches | Won | Lost | No results | Victory gain |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mumbai Indians | 5 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 4 |
| Gujarat titans | 4 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 3 |
| Delhi capital | 6 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 1 |
| Lucknow Super Giants | 5 | 2 | 3 | 0 | 0.66 |
| Punjab Kings | 4 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 1 |
| Royals Rajasthan | 6 | 2 | 4 | 0 | 0.50 |
| Sunrisers Hyderabad | 5 | 2 | 3 | 0 | 0.66 |
| Chennai Super Kings | 6 | 1 | 5 | 0 | 0.2 |
| Kolkata Knight Riders | 5 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 0.25 |
| Royal Challengers Bengaluru | 4 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 0.33 |
However, there are tastes of Chennai Super Kings and Mumbai Indians who have solid records at home. CSK does Chepauk Their fortress with 72 out of 113 wins played, a record of victories-defaits of 1,800. Then there is another five -fifteenth MI champion who won 68 of the 115 home games, a 1.478 victory record.
This year, however, CSK had a year to forget – in general and at home. On April 25, when they went down to Sunrisers Hyderabad, he represented their fifth defeat at the Ma Chidambaram stadium. They have never lost more at home in one season.
After their beat against the Royal Challengers Bengaluru on March 28, coach Stephen Fleming argued that they do not obtain any “home advantage”.
“Well, as we have told you for several years, there was no advantage at home in Chepauk. We have not been able to read the counters here in the past two years. So, this is not new. We are trying to take sockets every day with what we get, and we don’t know.”
The reproach with the surface of the house is not new and Fleming was certainly not the only voice that had criticism for the conservatives. Ajinkya Rahane, Zaheer Khan and Chandrakant Pandit all questioned the lack of support for the teams at the conservatives. The cricket player who became commenting on Simon Doull went to suggest that the reigning champions KKR should move away from the Eden’s gardens If the curator does not take into account.
KKR’s home record this season was not great. They played five to Eden Gardens, winning only one and losing three with one that is rain. With two remaining home games and the chances of IPL qualifying series on the line, they hoped for a makeshift tour from Sunday against the Royals of Rajasthan.
Home teams in IPL 2025
| Team | Matches | Shopping | Avenue | Rpo | Hs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dc | 6 | 1110 | 25.22 | 9.69 | 211 |
| SRH | 5 | 1018 | 30.84 | 10.33 | 286 |
| RR | 6 | 1013 | 25.97 | 9.04 | 212 |
| CSK | 6 | 909 | 18.93 | 7.68 | 190 |
| MID | 5 | 888 | 35.52 | 10.24 | 215 |
| Lsg | 5 | 885 | 27.65 | 8.89 | 203 |
| GT | 4 | 849 | 38.59 | 10.7 | 232 |
| Kkr | 5 | 774 | 26.68 | 9.55 | 234 |
| Pbks | 4 | 642 | 20.7 | 8.5 | 219 |
| RCB | 4 | 632 | 21.79 | 8.54 | 205 |
The rules, however, do not allow deductibles to dictate the state of the surface. While franchises only take the BCCI loan ground, they do not have a say on how the surface must be prepared.
“A BCCI curator is not responsible for any deductible. There are also no clear guidelines as such as the BCCI,” said a source close to the field developments in Timesofindia.com. “There has been no meeting of the conservatives for a long time (time).
“The franchises love to blame the conservatives. Instead of blaming the conservatives, they should see the quality of the cricket they play.
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Do you think the concept of home advantage is always true in IPL 2025?
“The franchises play in a certain place for two months, but forget all year round, there is a BCCI tournament (different age groups). If it is not the BCCI, the BCCI plays their leagues, their driving camps and other things.
“The conservatives follow the directives that were made by the former BCCI chief curator, Daljit Singh, three decades ago …”, added the source.
CSK at home in IPL 2025
| Brand | The overtones struck | Rpo | Conceded | The Overs played | Rpo | Opposition | RESULT |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 158/6 | 19.1 | 8.24 | 155/9 | 20 | 7.75 | MID | WON |
| 146/8 | 20 | 7.30 | 196/7 | 20 | 9.80 | RCB | LOST |
| 158/5 | 20 | 7.90 | 183/6 | 20 | 9.15 | Dc | LOST |
| 103/9 | 20 | 5.15 | 107/2 | 10.1 | 10.52 | Kkr | LOST |
| 154 | 19.5 | 7.76 | 155/5 | 18.4 | 8.30 | SRH | LOST |
| 190 | 19.2 | 9.82 | 194/6 | 19.4 | 9.86 | Pbks | LOST |
The COO of Gujarat Titans, Colonel Arvinder Singh, questioned the interest of the discussion on surfaces when the rules are clear.
“The rules of the game are very clear and they are common for everyone. No deductible has the right to say:” I want this kind of pitch “. This is not something that the rules allow you to do,” he said Timesofindia.com.
“The home advantage must come from the fact that it is your house. You are supposed to know these conditions better than anyone who comes because this is where you play most of your games, where you train. So, from this point of view, if you watch a home advantage, well, why not? You deserve the whole advantage at home that you can take.
“To say that I need advantages at home because I want this kind of pitch. Sorry, I don’t think it cuts the ice with anyone,” he added.
Then there are question points on the ethics of sport if the surfaces are biased towards a certain team or a certain style of play.
“What is the point of playing if the conditions will be the same?” Has interrogated South Africa and the Couturier des Titans du Gujarat, Kagiso Rabada, in an exclusive conversation with Timesofindia.com.
This IPL season, in the 50 games played until the Mumbai Indian victory over the Royals Rajasthan at the Sawai Mansingh stadium in Jaipur on May 1, only 20 were won at home. Among the remaining matches, 28 followed the way to the visiting team with one, between the capitals of Delhi and the Royals of the Rajasthan decided in a super plus, and a match is carried away.
There are still matches to be traveled before the IPL 2025 qualifiers are triggered, but this year is not a single-off to see the home games fight. During the 2023 IPL, out of the 74 games, 29 were won by the hosts while 44 went to the outside side. And then in IPL 2022, there were 34 victories at home and 40 victories outside on the 74 games.
Conversely, IPL 2018 followed the opposite script. In the 60 matches of the season, 38 were won by home teams and 22 by visitors. The balance was also leaning last year with 42 home victories and 29 outside victories in 72 games.