find themselves on the brink of an ignominious record as they prepare to host the Punjab Kings in what has become a fight to salvage pride rather than chase playoff hopes.
With just two wins in nine outings, the five-time champions are languishing at the bottom of the table. In contrast, PBKS sit comfortably in fifth place, having secured five victories, three defeats, and one no-result.
This season has been a forgettable chapter in CSK`s storied legacy. Their once impenetrable fortress at Chepauk has turned into familiar ground for opposition wins, with only one win from five matches played at home. What began on a positive note, an opening win over arch-rivals Mumbai Indians, has quickly unraveled into a string of underwhelming performances.
The first dent in their home dominance came at the hands of , who ended CSK’s long-standing unbeaten home record dating back to 2008. Chasing 197, Chennai stumbled to 146/8, setting the tone for further struggles.
Delhi Capitals were next to exploit the vulnerabilities. A commanding 77-run knock from KL Rahul, supported by stellar spells from Vipraj Nigam and Kuldeep Yadav, saw DC defend 184 comfortably, restricting CSK to 158/5.
The spiral continued with a crushing defeat to the Kolkata Knight Riders. CSK’s batting unit crumbled against spin, managing only 103/9 as Sunil Narine (3/13) and Varun Chakravarthy (2/22) dismantled their lineup. KKR chased the target with ease, sealing the match with 59 balls to spare.
A fourth home loss came against in a match that echoed past heartbreaks from the 2008 and 2012 seasons, both of which ended with CSK falling short in the final. Harshal Patel`s 4/28 derailed CSK’s innings at 154, despite promising efforts from Ayush Mhatre (30) and Dewald Brevis (42). SRH chased the target in 18.4 overs, led by Ishan Kishan (44) and a composed finish from Kamindu Mendis (32*) and Nitish Kumar Reddy (19*).
With one more defeat, CSK risk registering their worst-ever home season. As they face PBKS, the stakes are no longer about playoff contention, but about restoring lost pride and ensuring Chepauk remains a citadel, not a memory.