'12,000 fans at practice match just a teaser': Decoding Chennai’s love for CSK
Chennai Super Kings have enjoyed envious support from their fans over the years. Even during the two-year absence of CSK from IPL, the support and love for the three-time champions only grew in numbers. Ahead of IPL 2019, members of CSK’s official fan club, tell indiatoday.in more about the emotional connect.
Close to 12,000 fans filled the stands at MA Chidambaram Stadium during CSK's training session on Sunday (@ChennaiIPL Photo)HIGHLIGHTS
- Close to 12,000 people had turned up to cheer Chennai Super Kings during their practice game on Sunday
- CSK Fans Club president Sriram tells indiatoday.in that emotional attachment is a mutual feeling between the club and its fans
- CSK will begin their title defence in front of their home crowd on Saturday when they take on Royal Challengers Bangalore
Chennai Super Kings are gearing up for title defence in Indian Premier (IPL) 2019, starting March 23. MS Dhoni’s men open their campaign at home against Virat Kohli-led Royal Challengers Bangalore in what is expected to be a blockbuster opening match of the season.
As expected, Chennai is gripped by the CSK mania. The fans in the cricket-crazy city have had a lot to go through in the last three years. Firstly, CSK, which has intertwined with Chennai’s identity, was banned for two years between 2016 and 2017.
Secondly, when the popular IPL franchise returned to the league in 2018, Chennai fans showered the club with a lot of love. However, CSK’s homecoming was short-lived last year as their matches were shifted out of the city after a home game against Kolkata Knight Riders over Cauvery River water issue.
Nonetheless, the lack of home matches didn’t dampen the spirits of CSK fans. A group of fans travelled with their team for the most part of last season and filled stands at away venues with yellow, or as the club calls it, yellove. The Whistle Podu Express -- an entire train from Chennai to Pune organised by the club for its travelling fans last year -- was easily one of the most heartwarming moments of IPL 2018.
Ahead of IPL 2019, fans are excited about the home games more than ever. In fact, the preparations from the fans’ side are going on in full swing.
CSK matches at Chepauk a 'family reunion': Super Fan Saravanan
CSK had an envious group of close to 12,000 people watching their practice game at the MA Chidambaram Stadium on Sunday. The amazing reception the team received during one of its training sessions left people from the cricket fraternity awestruck.
"The crowd for the practice game is just a teaser. You’ll witness the main picture once the season starts," one of CSK’s most ardent supporters, Saravanan Hari tells indiatoday.in.
@ChennaiIPL Photo
Saravanan, who has been a prominent feature at the Chepauk with yellow paint all over his body, says he is extremely happy that more than seven matches are being played at Chennai this season. He adds that it’s not just about players-fans interaction but the people of Chennai are gearing up to treat CSK games like family reunion.
"I personally wouldn't want to call it a practice match. For me, it’s like a reunion of family members after almost a year. For three years, we haven’t been able to witness this at home, Saravanan said.
"Very happy that matches are being played at home. We just want to create a carnival-like atmosphere. Looking forward to it."
According to the schedule for the league games released by the BCCI, Chennai will host all seven of its home matches between March 23 and May 1. Media reports also suggest that the final of IPL 2019 will be played at the MA Chidambaram Stadium on May 12.
Emotions are expected to be running high when the family reunion kickstarts from Saturday. When it comes to CSK, the emotional attachment that dominates the narrative is a mutual feeling between the club and its fans.
It’s not surprising to see a man like MS Dhoni, known for keeping his emotions under check even in the toughest of situations, let his guard down while addressing the CSK stakeholders at a club meeting last year. Dhoni was a man with a mission in IPL 2018. Despite coping criticism over his batting form (or the lack of it) at the international level last year, Dhoni batted like a man possessed and led CSK from the front.
'Emotional attachment a mutual feeling between the club and its fans'
Fans travelled from Chennai to Pune in large numbers in a special train arranged by the management during IPL 2018 (Chennai Super Kings Fan Club Photo)
Sriram, the president of CSK’s official fan club, Chennai Super Kings Fan Club says the way CSK treats it fans makes them fall in love with the club even during trying times. Sriram adds the trip to Pune in Whistle Podu Express was a once-in-a-lifetime experience.
"There is a special emotional attachment that the fans have with CSK. Dhoni’s association with the club from the first season helped form a huge bond. We were wondering who CSK’s icon player would be. When Dhoni came on board, we started developing a special attachment," Sriram said.
"The way CSK treats its fans also helps it a lot. Last season, when the matches were shifted out of Chennai, the management's decision to come up with trains, accommodation and tickets for travelling fans bowled us over. Whistle Podu express was unimaginable.
"Their out-of-the-box thinking when it comes to fan engagement makes them stand out.
"When the matches were shifted to Pune, we approached the management for tickets. We told them that a lot of people were interested to travel and support the club. We were planning to travel based on ticket allotment.
"But the management asked us to wait and told us they were thinking about something better and bigger. Then, in a couple of days, they announced the Whistle Podu Express.
Chennai Super Kings Fan Club Photo
"We were thinking they would allot a coach or two for the travelling fans. But to see them come up with an entire train, not once but twice, made us very emotional. To see a sea of yellow at the Chennai Central Railway Station was a terrific atmosphere."
The two-year suspension and the controversy surrounding it will always be a talking point in conversations around CSK but Sriram insists the club’s fan following only grew in those two years. Incidentally, Chennai Super Kings Fans Club was launched during the first of the two years of CSK’s absence from the league.
What doesn’t kill makes you stronger. It’s only fitting that CSK’s skipper MS Dhoni recently mouthed the cliched but powerful line.
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