Cricket’s mesmerising pull on the city continues, stronger than ever, as IPL 8 draws to a close. All thanks in full measure to the cult status that home team Chennai Super Kings (CSK) has gained among cricket fans over seasons.
This year despite the Chennai Corporation ‘sealing’ the three stands in the M.A. Chidambaram Stadium, it did not dampen the fans of the yellow brigade (the official colour of CSK) invading the stadium for all matches. Fans would not deny that watching the match at the stadium creates an electrifying atmosphere with the humungous crowds cheering the CSK team to victory with the anthem ‘whistlepodu’.
The CSK team also rules the roost on social media with fans and trolls alike commenting on the team’s performance. Sujai Sampath, a die-hard CSK fan, says while he has always rooted for the team to win, fans in the city normally welcome quality cricket and have never failed to cheer any players across teams. Citing the poor reception meted out to M.S. Dhoni and Suresh Raina in the match against Kolkata Knight Riders by the fans in Eden Gardens, he said the crowds in Chepauk in the match against Delhi Daredevils never missed to applaud loudly Yuvaraj for his boundaries.
S. Gowtham, a sports enthusiast, spoke with pride about an ‘out-of-the-world experience’ of watching five matches this season at Chepauk.
Even as fans are disappointed about Chepauk not going to host any more matches and the team losing the home advantage, they are hoping that the professionally-managed city team would bring home the cup.
With CSK having topped the super league, fans have already named the team champion by tweeting with ‘IdhuNammaSeason’ even before the start of the playoffs and TrollDhoniHatersgolmaal on Facebook naming Dhoni the best captain.
