#WhistlePodu,#Yellove mania grip Chennai fans as CSK wins IPL

Chennaiites couldn’t have asked for a better long weekend as the city team, Chennai Super Kings (CSK), lifted the Indian Premier League Cup for the fourth time after their match against the Kolkata team in the finals in Dubai on Friday. In fact, fans even made their long-weekend plans around the finals to ensure they don’t miss out on watching their favourite team playing the big match.Some even flew to Dubai to watch the players in action.
Celebrity couple from the Tamil television industry, Mani Meghalai and her husband, Hussain, flew to Dubai to watch the match live at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium. Speaking to us from Dubai, Mani Meghalai, says, “In fact, this was our first experience watching a cricket match at a stadium and it turned out to be an unforgettable experience. We got tickets for the finals confirmed three weeks ago itself. So, we were really hoping that our team would play in the final match.”
“Now, we not only got to witness the team play the finals, but was so lucky to see them lift the Cup,” says Mani Meghalai and adds, “I only know four and six. Beyond that, if everyone claps, I’ll also do that, and if everyone remains quiet, I’ll also go silent! But Hussain is quite knowledgeable about cricket. I also enjoyed it thoroughly. As every KKR wicket fell, we were so excited. We knew we were going to win. So, the atmosphere at the stadium was quite jolly and it was great to experience that vibe. And the fireworks at the end of the match were super.”
Another CSK fan couple, Ajay Thomas and Nisha George, who travelled to Dubai, agrees that the vibe at the stadium, watching the Chennai team lift the Cup, was brilliant. “We really felt like we were in Chennai, not Dubai. The best was when the crowd started chanting Dhoni from the 15th over of the second innings. I must say the stadium was painted yellow by the crowd. It was my last day at work on Thursday, and we went from Pune to Mumbai the same night and flew to Dubai for the match. Now, I am hoping to watch the India vs Pakistan match of the T20 World Cup and return to Chennai on November 1.” Another CSK fan, Vishnu, who flew in to Dubai to watch the finals, says, “The atmosphere was electrifying. It was truly a yellow army at the stadium. There were 100 CSK fans for every five KKR fans. I would say the revenge for the 2012 loss in the finals felt good.”
Popular CSK fan, Saravanan, says, “More than just being happy, it’s quite emotional. In the last edition, we got a lot of brickbats for our performance. This time, the team has given back a fitting reply by lifting the Cup. The Cup has come home, what more do we need! And now, we are excitedly waiting to watch Thala Dhoni in the role of mentor for Team India in the upcoming T20 World Cup. Apart from a great captain, wicket keeper and batsman, Thala is so good at reading the pitch and that helps him prepare the playing 11. And that attribute of Thala is going to really help the team. India will surely win the T20 World Cup with Thala as its mentor.”
Cricket analysts and standup artiste, Bosskey, quips, “Ours is wise aana team, not vayasaana team!” Former Indian cricketer, commentator and an ardent fan of the Chennai team, Kris Srikkanth, adds, “It’s a great achievement, looking at the way they made a comeback after not qualifying for the playoffs last year. On Friday, the openers — Ruturaj Gaikwad and Faf du Plessis — laid the foundation. Overall, the team is quite balanced and has a strong batting line-up, and the experience of the senior players became useful for the team at crucial
moments.”