One of finest teams in the Indian Premier League (IPL), the five-times champions, Chennai Super Kings (CSK), has encountered a new challenge prior to the start of the 2025 season. The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has enforced certain new policies barring Chennai Super Kings from training on its home pitch, Chepauk Stadium in Chennai. BCCI’s Decision to Restrict Stadium Use The BCCI decision is a result of a string of Test match losses, which has led the board to enforce more stringent rules on pitch usage. As part of these reforms, state associations can only host domestic matches prior to the start of the IPL. This regulation impacts a multiple teams, but CSK, which counts on Chepauk for pre-season training, has been most severely affected. One of the officials at BCCI described the logic behind the move: "In order to keep pitch quality good for the IPL, we have restricted stadiums from hosting anything but domestic matches prior to the tournament." Also Read | IPL 2025: MS Dhoni Tweaks Bat Weight for Better Game CSK Adapts with Alternative Training Plans With their traditional venue out of commission, CSK has relocated its pre-season training to the CSK Academy in Chennai. The move guarantees that players are kept in prime condition despite the disruption. Former India and CSK skipper, MS Dhoni, who will feature for the franchise as the uncapped player in 2025, has already started training at the complex. His presence is enough for lifting spirits, with the team concentrating on staying ahead of the game before the season begins. This last moment change in plans is a test, but CSK is proving its mettle by making quick adjustments. Though the franchise may not have several venues as backup, they are utilizing its academy arrangements to the best. As the IPL 2025 approaches, it will be interesting to see how Chennai Super Kings overcomes hurdle and whether the absence of Chepauk practice affects their game.