If cricket is a religion, then IPL has got to be the biggest festival, as so it is. Millions of fans from all over the world tune in to watch their favourite teams coming face to face with each other in the quest of lifting an IPL trophy.
And, while every team has its fair share of devoted fans, CSK is somehow overheading them all in terms of their devoted fans. CSK boasts of 4.2 million followers on Twitter, the second highest for any IPL team, and each and every one of them has turned up for their team, after every wicket, four, six, fifty, hundred and finally the win. Which is why CSK fans for one were extremely sad when the news of IPL matches shifting from Chennai, hit the people.
The decision to shift all IPL matches from Chennai to other cities was taken in the wake of an ongoing protest against the Centre over its failure to form Cauvery Management Board. While it was an essential step to take, the general public and fans were not at all happy about it. After all, CSK was finally playing after a long ban of two years.
But as they say, a team is nothing without their supporters, the CSK management decided to do something special for their fans. The team management decided to book an entire train to take the supporters to Pune where they will be playing the Rajasthan Royals today.
Super fun in the #WhistlePoduExpress! 💛🦁 pic.twitter.com/BME1l6QGhp
— Chennai Super Kings (@ChennaiIPL) April 19, 2018
#Yellove gangsss! En route Pune on #WhistlePoduExpress 🦁💛 pic.twitter.com/hgvIvBlfNM
— Chennai Super Kings (@ChennaiIPL) April 19, 2018
#WhistlePoduExpress painted yellow! 🦁💛 pic.twitter.com/uX4cLZPamq
— Chennai Super Kings (@ChennaiIPL) April 19, 2018
Gaana Super Kings! #WhistlePodu #WhistlePoduExpress 🦁💛 pic.twitter.com/ujFgAYEORe
— Chennai Super Kings (@ChennaiIPL) April 19, 2018
They booked all of 13 coaches of the train for the fans and even covered all of their expenses, including fare, stay, food and local transportation to the stadium in Pune. Not only that, but the team has promised to arrange the same for all the home matches to be held in Pune depending on the availability of trains.
Now, that’s something one just can’t expect from any other team in the IPL, but it did and it shows that teams care for their fans just as much as fans care for their teams.
This is not an ordinary news and it got no ordinary reaction to it too. Here’s how people reacted to CSK’s grand gesture.
Not just banners. A cartload of refreshments was sent along too. This is an incredibly sweet reception for the #WhistlePoduArmy travelling on the #WhistlePoduExpress 🙂 pic.twitter.com/vBd17ffLtg
— Harish (@_curses) April 19, 2018
https://twitter.com/CricSuperFan/status/986862559335612416
Have to say I am LOVING what @ChennaiIPL continues to do in their connect with the fans this #IPL2018!
The #WhistlePoduExpress to Pune is filled with passionate lovers of the game & is a true testament to what the spirit of the #IPL is all about!#CSK #WhistlePodu #BESTvsBEST https://t.co/JNZilhYk26
— Suhail Chandhok (@suhailchandhok) April 19, 2018
This kind of adulation, love and support is what makes them very special. @ChennaiIPL as a franchise is extremely blessed to have such passionate fans who carry a sense of pride, positive energy & whistles wherever they go to cheer for their team 👌 #WhistlePoduExpress https://t.co/NAu0B7abgw
— Hemang Badani (@hemangkbadani) April 19, 2018
Shout out loud and clear, when on #WhistlePoduExpress! #Yellove 🦁💛 pic.twitter.com/51Vkkpv6cC
— Chennai Super Kings (@ChennaiIPL) April 19, 2018
https://twitter.com/RaveeenaAgg/status/986821543823982592
#Yellove Touchdown! #WhistlePoduExpress #WhistlePodu pic.twitter.com/zQlynsZtUj
— Chennai Super Kings (@ChennaiIPL) April 20, 2018
Match Day. Time to Paint Pune #Yellove @ChennaiIPL #CSKvRR #WhistlePodu #WhistlePoduArmy pic.twitter.com/QxsyvEre84
— Saravanan Hari 💛🦁🏏 (@CricSuperFan) April 20, 2018
It's been called "fan engagement at its very best" … and didn't these guys just love it! https://t.co/6aR8maNl33 pic.twitter.com/fSz082GLv8
— cricket.com.au (@cricketcomau) April 20, 2018
It's machday and the #WhistlePoduExpress is right on course to the #DenAwayFromDen! Tayari kara #Pune. #WhistlePodu pic.twitter.com/PTjTop9bfq
— Chennai Super Kings (@ChennaiIPL) April 20, 2018
The Craze for Chennai Super Kings is simply Ethereal! @ChennaiIPL#WhistlePoduExpress pic.twitter.com/hWIQqyG55C
— Whistle Podu Army ® – CSK Fan Club (@CSKFansOfficial) April 19, 2018
Till now, CSK has managed to create quite a space for itself in the league. From the three matches they have played till now, CSK won two and lost one (a close loss).
Jyotsna Amla