Whistle Podu Express brings CSK fans along
PUNE: What is a home turf without home fans? With the Chennai Super Kings matches being shifted to Pune because of protests over Cauvery water, the franchise has decided to bring in fans to the MCA Stadium in Pune from Chennai for their tie against Rajasthan Royals on Friday. And it isn’t a select few. If CSK officials are to be believed, there are more than a thousand fans who will head to the city on a train named the ‘Whistle Podu Express’.
There are 13 sleeper compartments and an AC threetier compartment. It is a special train that will run from Chennai to Pune and will carry only CSK fans. CSK CEO Kasi Viswanathan said, “In the last two years, CSK fans were very supportive towards us. Having seen just one game in Chennai, they were very keen and the fan club was requesting us whether we could give them tickets at concessional rates and whether they could come to Pune and watch. We thought the least we could do was get them to come and watch the match. And the management was kind enough to do it.”
The only match that was played at the Chidambaram Stadium this season was a nail-bitter with the hosts beating KKR by five wickets.
“We spoke to the Indian Railways, since it’s only through them that we could have got this done,” Viswanathan said, adding that the fans were selected by the franchise’s registered fan club. “There is a registered CSK fan club, which has a secretary, joint secretary and treasurer. They have their own ways of getting the fans together. And they have selected the fans. The franchise will take care of the accommodation. We’ve arranged hotels as well.”