Chennai will have home advantage: Stephen Fleming

Should a host team have any sort of advantage in the Indian Premier League (IPL)? A guideline of the Ground and Pitches Committee of BCCI clearly states that shouldn't be the case. However, Royal Challengers Bangalore coach Ray Jennings said a few weeks ago that a host team deserves an edge.

Reigning IPL Champions Chennai Super Kings defend their crown in their backyard, the MA Chidambaram Stadium , where their haven't lost a game since April 15, 2010.

Excerpts from CSK coach Stephen Fleming's media interaction yesterday.

Can anyone tame the lion in its own den?
It's a nice feeling to be back at home. We've talked a lot during the season about how we don't want to get used to home conditions. We don't want to take the game here at Chennai for granted. The team that will reach the final will obviously up the ante.

Is this your dream destination to defend your crown?
Obviously, we have played a lot of our cricket here. If we ever wanted to play a final, it had to be this venue.

Pick one: Bangalore or Mumbai.
Actually, neither. I thought Kolkata were best suited to playing in these conditions. They had spinners to exploit these conditions. Not to say we don't respect the two sides. Both are very good. We can't underestimate anyone.

Ray Jennings said there should be home advantage. Do you agree?
It's hard not to, but those are decisions to be taken by a higher authority. This time of the year they (curators) can't do much. I can't see a change in the surface. There will be some advantage for us.