IPL 2018: CSK cricketers vent their disappointment over shift of venues

Chennai Super Kings (CSK) is one of the franchises in the Indian Premier League (IPL) which boasts off a loyal fan base. However, the fans didn’t have much to cheer for the last couple of seasons as the franchise served a two-year suspension from the league owing to match-fixing scandals. The team recently played their maiden game after three years against the Mumbai Indians.

The day before yesterday, Mahendra Singh Dhoni and his men took charge at the iconic MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai against the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR). Quite expectantly, they conjured roars from the crowd which was present at the Chepauk. The Men in Yellow didn’t disappoint the fans as they entertained them with a resounding victory against Dinesh Karthik’s men.

CWD gets the better of Chennai

Meanwhile, apart from the admiration for the CSK team and their stupendous performance, the situation has been nothing less than abysmal. The Cauvery Water Dispute (CWD) has grabbed the headlines for quite a while now and subsequently, demands of shifting Chennai games out of the city flooded in from different political parties.

During the game, shoes were hurled at Faf du Plessis and Ravindra Jadeja after which a couple of perpetrators were arrested. Resultantly, the home matches of the franchise have eventually been moved to Pune. It has been learnt that that MS Dhoni’s familiarity with the conditions at the venue having played for the Rising Pune Supergiant, prompted the authorities to choose Pune.

Also, the venue is said to be logistically viable and hence they have opted for the stadium. Meanwhile, the fans will have to wait for at least a year for their cricketers to ply their trade at the Chepauk. Also, the cricketers and the support staff are extremely agitated over the move. Most of them have taken to Twitter and expressed their agony over the unfortunate occurring.

Here are the reactions   

Will miss playing on our home ground and entertaining our #Chennai fans this season…You are always in our hearts.
On to #Pune now! #IPL2018

— Suresh Raina (@ImRaina) April 12, 2018

Very sad for our team @ChennaiIPL and the fans here in Chennai that we won't be playing anymore games here this season. The atmosphere last game was incredible. Let's hope this situation in Tamil Nadu is sorted out asap. ??????

— Shane Watson (@ShaneRWatson33) April 12, 2018

Sad to be leaving Chennai and not be able to come back this season..#whistlepodu

— Faf Du Plessis (@faf1307) April 12, 2018

Extremely sad to leave chennai.All I got here is warm welcome and unconditional love.Hopefully everything will be good when we come back here next year.Pls keep supporting us.yendrendrum anbudan ungal udanpirava sagotharan ❤️ #vettaikku ready a ?

— Imran Tahir (@ImranTahirSA) April 12, 2018

Gutted that we have had to move from Chepauk, the atmosphere was unbelievable!
Thoughts with the fan who was badly hurt last night, no one should go to watch & end up in hospital. Hope he recovers soon & all issues are resolved.
Keep supporting us it makes a huge difference! https://t.co/CSd4jekFF0

— Sam Billings (@sambillings) April 11, 2018

Sad to be leaving Chennai today. Great to be back and again experience the love and passion the Tamil Nadu fans have for cricket and CSK. I trust a ‘peaceful’ resolution is found soon for the problems at hand. Thanks to everyone for making the team so welcome.

— Stephen Fleming (@SPFleming7) April 11, 2018

Very sad that we have to play our remaining home games away from Chennai. Feeling for the players and the fans but also hoping for a peaceful and swift resolution to the current problems. Thanks for the incredible support of all the Csk fans

— Mike Hussey (@mhussey393) April 12, 2018

Heart breaking news..no more ipl games in chennai.. fans have waited two years for CSK to play in front of them at home..hope all the issues get solved soon and matches comes back to chennai soon…Thank u for your love,wishes,prayers would be needed all the time..

— Harbhajan Turbanator (@harbhajan_singh) April 11, 2018