Chennai, cricket and IPL

Writing for the business newspaper Mint, Chetan Narula takes a look at how the cricket-culture that is deeply entrenched in Chennai has changed with the advent of Twenty20 cricket through its association with the Chennai Super Kings.

Chennai stands at a cross-roads today. It is now a major Twenty20 venue and the patience of its patrons with respect to other formats is being tested. The new stands don't allow for the relief of shade during a gruelling day of Test cricket. Ticket availability, other than for the Indian Premier League, is a big question mark because the administrators refuse to sell them online, generating serpentine queues from 4am on match days. Security checks are a hassle at every entrance point and there is a lack of proper access for the umpteen fans, compounded by a paucity of facilities.