IPL 2018: Chaos outside Chepauk

Police tried to force protesters on to buses outside the stadium in Chennai, the capital of Tamil Nadu state, where the Kings are to play their first home match since a two-year ban for illegal gambling was lifted.

The Chennai police also arrested 6 cadres of the Naam Tamizhar party who had hurled shoes and were starting to protest.

Off the field, political groups have been opposing to host IPL games in the city as they demand formation of Cauvery Management Board, with a warning of disrupting proceedings.

In the IPL 11 today, the fifth match of IPL is being played between Chennai Super Kings and Kolkata knightriders in the Chidambaram Stadium Chennai.

The heavy police deployment that the protesters were kept in check and the match started right on time with cricket rightly grabbing the headlines once the match began, at least until the eighth over of the KKR innings. But we are for the cricket match. “The organisers should realise the problems of people and act accordingly”, he had said last week.

Demonstrators reportedly released black balloons into the sky carrying anti-IPL messages as a sign of protest.

As the southern state waits for the establishment of the board – and its politicians grow increasingly frustrated – the IPL and the Chennai Super Kings have been caught in the crossfire. With the obvious home ground advantage CSK would look to dominate the game from the word go but KKR with a pumped-up morale after their last victory against Royal Challengers Bangalore won’t come easy either.

Dinesh Karthik (Captain), Sunil Narine, Andre Russell, Chris Lynn, Mitchell Starc (injured), Robin Uthappa, Kuldeep Singh Yadav, Piyush Chawla, Nitish Rana, Kamlesh Nagarkoti, Shivam Mavi, Mitchell Johnson, Shubman Gill, Ranganath Vinay Kumar, Rinku Singh, Cameron Delport, Javon Searles, Apoorv Vijay Wankhade, and Ishank Jaggi. He nudged his way to 20 from 16 balls and then went ballistic, smashing 10 sixes in his next 20 balls – taking his tally to 11 for the match – to post an astonishing 88no from 36 balls.

Two-time champions CSK have a consistent and unrivalled IPL record, while KKR have also won the event twice.

Heavy security has been deployed inside and outside the stadium. The agitation has persuaded many ticket holders to stay away. KKR team also reached the stadium. “The spectators will be allowed inside the stadium only after thorough frisking”, a senior police official told The Hindu.

Shukla today met Union Home Secretary Rajiv Gauba, requesting him to ensure security arrangements for uninterrupted hosting of the matches. Chennai Super Kings players have arrived the Chepauk Stadium with full security.