IPL 2018: Why BCCI turned down CSK’ request to use Brabourne as home venue

CSK, who have won both their games and are at No.2 in the points table, will face Kings XI Punjab (KXIP) at Mohali for their next match.

Chennai Super Kings’ (CSK) lost their home games of VIVO IPL 2018 at Chepauk due to the Cauvery water dispute protests. The fans who waited for three years to see their team in action were in for more disappointment. Maharashtra Cricket Association (MCA) Stadium in Pune will be their home from hereon. However, The Times of India reported that CSK’s first choice was Brabourne Stadium in Mumbai. BCCI turned down CSK’s request as they did not want Mumbai to host nearly 15 games.

BCCI had offered CSK four venues: Visakhapatnam, Thiruvananthapuram, Pune and Rajkot. After BCCI’s rejection, they finalised on Pune.

Mumbai Indians (MI) are playing seven of their home games at the Wankhede Stadium, alongside two playoffs. Brabourne is less than a kilometre away from Wankhede. A source was quoted as saying, “You can’t have 15 IPL matches in Mumbai alone. There are other cities as well, which can stage the matches.”

CSK’s official anthem “whistle podu”

Last year, Pune hosted the now defunct Rising Pune Supergiant (RPS) that ended as runners-up. The city has a sizeable following for MS Dhoni, the skipper of CSK, who played for RPS in the previous two seasons.

CSK, who have won both their games and are at No.2 in the points table, will face Kings XI Punjab (KXIP) at Mohali for their next match.

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