No Chennai home games, no problem: CSK organises special train for fans to Pune
Chennai: Chennai Super Kings (CSK) fans were left dejected last week after the Board of Control for Cricket of India (BCCI) decided to shift its Indian Premier League (IPL) 2018 home games to Pune due to the ongoing Cauvery issue.
But in a wonderful gesture on Monday, the CSK management board booked an entire train for its fans to travel from Chennai to Pune in order to support the two-time champions.
#WhistlePoduArmy all set to storm Pune! #WhistlePoduExpress #yellove #WhistlePodu pic.twitter.com/dY1gm3foDs
— Chennai Super Kings (@ChennaiIPL) April 19, 2018
Hundreds of fans boarded the Whistle Podu Express, a fans-only special train to Pune, donning the famous canary jersey along with CSK posters and banners.
"After the team's home games were shifted to Pune, fans were really upset. So we requested the CSK management board to give us discounted train or flight tickets to go watch the game or even reimburse tickets for the matches shifted out of the city. We suggested they get us one or two coaches to take fans to Pune. But the board went one step ahead and sponsored an entire train for us," Prabhu, one of the fans told the News Minute.
.@ChennaiIPL are set to play the rest of their home matches in the #VIVOIPL at Pune and so are the @CSKFansOfficial with their #WhistlePoduExpress! Catch the fun journey of the fans from their old home to the new on the #SuperKingsShow, tomorrow on Star Sports! pic.twitter.com/YyF8LiKVFE
— Star Sports (@StarSportsIndia) April 19, 2018
CSK fan club heads made groups and selected even the ones who never even had an opportunity to watch a CSK game live.
"We picked 20 fans from Twitter who had bought tickets for the CSK vs Rajasthan Royals match which was shifted out of Chennai, after verifying their tickets. Our fan club conducts blood donation drives and we even visit orphanages during Dhoni and Raina's birthdays. We picked those fans who regularly attend these events. Out of this, over 70 were those who attended the blood donation drives. Fans were chosen and the name list was put out within 24 hours as we got the permission on such short notice," Prabhu added.
The Yellow Brigade will be present in large numbers for the game against Rajasthan Royals on Friday. Not only that, but the CSK management board have also arranged stay and other facilities for their loyal fans.
"CSK is very close to our heart. There are many passionate fans who travel to watch the team live and most of them were even willing to pay for the tickets if the board discounted them. Now fans are elated with the CSK board's gesture," Prabhu concluded.
