IPL 2026: Whistles get going again as Chepauk roars for new and familiar CSK faces

With about half an hour to go for the CSK Roar 2026 event, the stadium announcer here at the M.A. Chidambaram Stadium decided to engage the building sea of yellow in a game of clapping. It started slowly at first, gradually rising in tempo with each beat before finally culminating into a frenzy of claps and (man-made) whistles.

The exercise was a good metaphor for the current temperature of the Chennai crowd, whose adoration looks set to reach a deafening crescendo as the five-time champion looks to chart a course to an elusive sixth title in 2026. The sweltering heat of a Sunday afternoon in the incoming Chennai summer proved no impediment as 20,800 fans filled Chepauk to shower its love on this season’s squad for the first time.

Among those receiving a first welcome in trademark yellow was Sanju Samson, who will turn out for the franchise for the first time after his trade from Rajasthan Royals fresh off establishing himself as a national hero for his Player-of-the-Tournament-worthy exploits for India at the T20 World Cup 2026.

Indeed Chennai was the ground at which Samson began his remarkable turnaround. He returned to the top of the order in India’s match against Zimbabwe at this very stadium.

That he would be a fan favourite was evident from the reception that night, with his name the most common on the back of shirts and the roar his name received when announced at the toss rendering any other sound in a mile-wide radius of the stadium inaudible.

As the jersey colour has changed from blue to yellow, Samson’s name no longer claimed primacy, instead getting bifurcated with another famed wicketkeeper-batter, but that did not diminish the affection the crowd showed to its new star, who welcomed him out onto the field with a similarly effusive display of affection.

But on a day of introductions, plenty of familiar faces returned as well. Shivam Dube, freshly minted a two-time T20 world champion, made a return to his adoring Chepauk crowd, as did Ruturaj Gaikwad, who is set to retake the reins as CSK captain after an injury-hit 2025 season. There was also time for a reunion or two as the crowd got to see a reunion between its Thala (MS Dhoni) and Chinna Thala (Suresh Raina), in a merging of the past and present of the franchise.

The stage is now set for Chennai Super Kings’ season as it looks to break a disappointing run of two consecutive years without finishing in a playoff spot. The crowd most certainly is, but to call on the slightly saccharine words of Coldplay, will this year’s IPL be all yellow?

Published on Mar 22, 2026