IPL 2018: Shifting of Chennai Matches is Unfortunate for Their Fans - Sunil Gavaskar
Published - 20 Apr 2018, 08:34 PM | Updated - 22 Aug 2024, 11:50 PM
The former India skipper, Sunil Gavaskar believes it is sad for the fans, as the Chennai Super Kings matches have got shifted to Pune.
The Men in Yellow could only play a solitary match at their fortress of Chepauk Stadium. It is well known that CSK has a huge fan base, but it is unfortunate that they will have to play their home games in Pune.
Chennai had received huge support in their only home match which they had played after a gap of almost three years.
This is not the first time that CSK matches have moved out of the city. Sri Lankan players were also banned from playing in the city in the 2014 edition.
Chennai will play their first home match at their new adopted ground of the Maharashtra Cricket Association in Pune today (April 20th) against Rajasthan Royals.
Sunil Gavaskar wrote for Times of India column,
“The Chennai Super Kings play their first match at their new ‘home ground’ at Pune. What a sad situation for the gentle cricket lovers of Chennai. They had been deprived of watching their favourite team for two years and then their appetite was whetted when the Chennai Super Kings returned to the Chidambaram stadium and won their first encounter”.
The Little Master further noted the Chennai Super Kings wouldn’t get bog down by this blow. Mahendra Singh Dhoni had shown a great character to play a fighting knock in the last match against Kings XI Punjab despite playing with pain in his back. The Chennai skipper had scored a fine 79 to keep them in the hunt.
Also read: IPL 2018: Match 18: CSK vs RR – Rajasthan Royals Predicted XI
The former Indian legendary opener further penned down,
“What won’t be stopped is the Chennai team’s determination to win the trophy again. That was epitomized by their skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni playing a rousing inning despite a severe back injury. Chennai will be hoping that the intervening days since that injury will have worked in his favour. He will take the field and lead them against a team that has played some superb cricket but also some ordinary stuff.”
It is well known that the Chennai fans are the most passionate ones when it comes to putting their weight behind CSK.
They had turned in large numbers to support their team at M.A Chidambaram Stadium. Chennai will today lock horns with Rajasthan Royals at MCA, Pune.
