It was heartbreak for many die-hard Chennai Super Kings fans after the Board of Cricket Control in India (BCCI) announced that the city will not host any Indian Premier League matches. This owing to security concerns following the massive protests by several parties and groups demanding that matches not be held when the state is in distress over the Cauvery water sharing issue.
Pune will now be the new home ground for CSK, the BCCI announcement came on Thursday.
While a number of people welcomed the move to shift the venue, many CSK fans were left disappointed considering the fact that the MS Dhoni-led team had just returned to the IPL after a two-year suspension. While expressing their grief on social media platforms like Twitter, many also promised to support the team regardless of where they play.
It's very sad to miss #CSK @ChennaiIPL #ChepaukStadium Don't worry ........we will support where ever #CSK goes...... .... ..... .......@ImRaina @msdhoni
— Periyamahalingam S (@lingammechanic1) April 12, 2018
Don't worry guys, we have may flights from Chennai to Pune at the average price of Rs. 2500. Now we need to spend little extra to watch our @ChennaiIPL lions in action and show our love. #WhistlePodu #idhunammapride #MyTeamMyPride
— Sparty (@SPARTY_99) April 12, 2018
@imjadeja @faf1307
— Guru Goodly (@GuruGoodly) April 12, 2018
Extremely sorry for the incident. It's a shame that we let it happen. Though you won't be playing at den this year, we will come & support at Pune.
- On behalf of all true @ChennaiIPL Fans#Whistlepodu #YellowArmy #CSKisTheBest pic.twitter.com/VgHcvx0Byl
Many questioned the fairness and the purpose of the move and slammed the government, questioning how this step would solve the Cauvery issue. They wondered why only cricket was being targeted, while other sources of entertainment such as films had been spared.
Twitterati also targeted Rajinikanth and Kamal Haasan for saying that the IPL should not be held in Chennai.
Some people asked what those people who earn a living by selling items near the stadium would now do.
We are truly sorry faf :( we people have nothing against you and it was all because of some half baked political morons! Hope you would have realised by now but still we feel ashamed and sad really! Hope you forgive us :) we do love u all! #csk forever!
— Ahdev (@Ahdev7) April 12, 2018
Dear politicians for ur personal motive, please don't divide our people. Wht is the reason for to stop play cricket in #chennai? If #ipl is stop #CauveryManagementBoard will commenced. Wht will u get ? Now v loss our honor. #csk sorry to @faf1307 @imjadeja for actuality.
— Ganesh Tamilarasan (@ganeshtamil88) April 12, 2018
So #CSK home matches are shifted frm Chennai to Pune . question is what politicians/movie actors actually achieved frm this ? #CauveryIssue #CauveryManagementBoard #CSKvKKR #CSK #RRvDD
— chaitanya Krishna (@vChaitanya937) April 12, 2018
Sir, congratulations, CSK matches shifted out of Chennai. For People watching in TV will continue to watch and CSK will still make money. Who lost- the daily bread winner who thought he might make some extra cash for his family:-(
— Raghu (@veraghavan) April 12, 2018
Ok can we now ban the release of rajinikanth's #Kaala untill the issue get's over? Can we now ban the release of vishwaroopam 2? Can we now ban all those liquor shops around the state? Can we now ban @ChennaiIPL team itself? Can we? #Cauveyissue #NoIPLInChennai
— Shalar Mujnir (@ShalarMujnir) April 12, 2018
Some apologised for the protests that rocked Chennai’s Anna Salai before the match. There were disturbances during the match too and a pair of shoes were thrown into the ground, and 6 Naam Tamizhar protestors were arrested.
Extremely sorry for the incident took place on that day. We Tamilians love the sport & all @ChennaiIPL players. Our support is always there for CSK.Wherever you play u represent #CSK that's enough for us, as a fan we cheer for u. #AnbuTamilan pic.twitter.com/e7o1pCJF8t
— Siva (@Cva_23) April 12, 2018
Extremely saddened after @ChennaiIPL home den has shifted to pune,not for the cricket,our tamilnadu players felt insecured by our tamilians ,and also those incidents made all tamilians #guilty #csk #plzcomebackcsk @TwitterIndia#wewantcmb #wewantchepauk
— vijaykumar (@strikersvijay) April 12, 2018
Even Facebook isn’t far behind, with people sharing stories and memes expressing discontent to vent out their emotions.