Cricket fraternity reacts as Chennai Super Kings’ home games shifted to Pune due to Cauvery protests

A day after the Indian Premier League (IPL) returned to the MA Chidambaram Stadium following a two-year suspension, the Tamil Nadu capital has been stripped of all matches of the 11th edition of the league due to massive Cauvery protests that have rocked the state, informed IPL chief Rajeev Shukla on Wednesday.

“CSK will be asked to move their home matches to Pune as the Chennai police has expressed their inability to provide adequate security for the remaining matches,” said IPL Chairman Rajeev Shukla.

Chennai was scheduled to host seven matches of IPL 2018, the first of which was held on Tuesday where they prevailed over Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) in a high-scoring thriller by five wickets. Even during that game, a pair of shoes was flung towards the long-on boundary in the eighth over of the match. The miscreants said to be from actor-director Seeman’s Naam pro-Tamil outfit Tamizhar, were evicted from the MA Chidambaram Stadium and were sent to custody.

Here’s how cricket fraternity reacted on Twitter

Very sad for our team @ChennaiIPL and the fans here in Chennai that we won't be playing anymore games here this season. The atmosphere last game was incredible. Let's hope this situation in Tamil Nadu is sorted out asap. 🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻
— Shane Watson (@ShaneRWatson33) April 12, 2018

Will miss playing on our home ground and entertaining our #Chennai fans this season…You are always in our hearts.
On to #Pune now! #IPL2018
— Suresh Raina🇮🇳 (@ImRaina) April 12, 2018

Extremely sad to leave chennai.All I got here is warm welcome and unconditional love.Hopefully everything will be good when we come back here next year.Pls keep supporting us.yendrendrum anbudan ungal udanpirava sagotharan ❤️ #vettaikku ready a ?
— Imran Tahir (@ImranTahirSA) April 12, 2018

Heart breaking news..no more ipl games in chennai.. fans have waited two years for CSK to play in front of them at home..hope all the issues get solved soon and matches comes back to chennai soon…Thank u for your love,wishes,prayers would be needed all the time..
— Harbhajan Turbanator (@harbhajan_singh) April 11, 2018

Sad to be leaving Chennai today. Great to be back and again experience the love and passion the Tamil Nadu fans have for cricket and CSK. I trust a ‘peaceful’ resolution is found soon for the problems at hand. Thanks to everyone for making the team so welcome.
— Stephen Fleming (@SPFleming7) April 11, 2018

Very sad that we have to play our remaining home games away from Chennai. Feeling for the players and the fans but also hoping for a peaceful and swift resolution to the current problems. Thanks for the incredible support of all the Csk fans
— Mike Hussey (@mhussey393) April 12, 2018

Gutted that we have had to move from Chepauk, the atmosphere was unbelievable!
Thoughts with the fan who was badly hurt last night, no one should go to watch & end up in hospital. Hope he recovers soon & all issues are resolved.
Keep supporting us it makes a huge difference! https://t.co/CSd4jekFF0
— Sam Billings (@sambillings) April 11, 2018

So disappointing for the most passionate Chennai crowd that matches are moved out of Chennai. Really feel for them, the energy of Chepauk was something else.
— Mohammad Kaif (@MohammadKaif) April 11, 2018

It's really sad to hear that @ChennaiIPL's matches are being moved out of Chennai due to Cauvery protests. The sea of Yellow at Chepauk shall be missed.
— R P Singh रुद्र प्रताप सिंह (@rpsingh) April 11, 2018

Having to shift the Home matches from the Den was not something that was on the cards. The Lions will roar in Pune and would like to thank all the Super Fans from the #WhistlePoduArmy for all the #Yellove support. Keep them whistles coming! 🦁💛
— Chennai Super Kings (@ChennaiIPL) April 12, 2018

With games shifting from Chennai to PUNE for @ChennaiIPL and players getting injured…. lot is happening for them. If the news is right @ImRaina out for 2 games then it will be a big blow. Fortunately all this has not affected their winning streak. #VivoIPL2018
— Pragyan Ojha (@pragyanojha) April 11, 2018