Several IPL 2025 teams are struggling at their home grounds, with Royal Challengers Bangalore and Kolkata Knight Riders facing the most challenges. Teams like Chennai Super Kings, Lucknow Super Giants, and Rajasthan Royals have expressed dissatisfaction with their home pitches this season.
Rajasthan Royals head coach Rahul Dravid pointed out that the issue lies in the teams’ unfamiliarity with their home grounds due to the recent mega auction. Many players are new to their teams and haven’t had enough time to get accustomed to the local conditions. For instance, Phil Salt played for KKR last season but is now with RCB, while Nitish Rana is new to KKR and is playing in Jaipur for the first time.
Dravid believes that as the season progresses, players will adapt to their surroundings. He said the impact of home advantage diminishes when teams undergo significant changes due to large auctions. However, as players gain more experience and practice, they will start to feel more comfortable at their home grounds.
The mega auction allowed teams to retain a maximum of six players, giving them the opportunity to maintain their core squads. However, many teams opted to bring in new players, which has contributed to the current challenges they’re facing at their home grounds.
Adapting to New Surroundings
As the season unfolds, teams will need to adjust their strategies to overcome the hurdles they’re facing at their home grounds. With players getting more comfortable with the local conditions, teams may start to perform better and capitalize on their home advantage.
- Teams are struggling to adapt to new players and home grounds
- Rahul Dravid believes players will adjust as the season progresses
- The mega auction has led to significant changes in team rosters