IPL 2018: 5 venues where Chennai Super Kings can play their remaining matches

Amidst all the political controversy regarding the Cauvery issue between Tamil Nadu and Karnataka, cricket has lost the battle with the administrators and the protesters successfully able to move the Chennai Super Kings' remaining home matches out of the MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai. With six matches left, the returning franchise will have to shift their games to a new ground much to the disappointment of the local fans, who were prepared to cheer for their side in full bloom.

Sportskeeda presents 5 stadiums across India where the Chennai team can conduct their “home” matches in the 2018 IPL.

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#5 Dr. YSR Reddy ACA-VDCA Cricket Stadium, Visakhapatnam

Based amidst the mountains in the city of Visakhapatnam, the Dr. YSR Reddy ACA-VDCA Cricket Stadium may be mostly known for its long name – it is certainly the longest among all stadiums at present – but is a ground at which Dhoni has fond memories. In 2005 against Pakistan, he had bashed 148 in an ODI, thus making a name for himself as an early starter at the highest level.

Since then, the venue has come a long way and even hosted a Test in 2016 against England, with IPL matches of the now defunct Deccan Chargers in 2012 and that of the Sunrisers Hyderabad in the earlier editions.

#4 Greenfield International Stadium, Trivandrum

The Greenfield International Stadium in Trivandrum has been built to stage cricket as well as football

Another one of new cricket grounds in the country, the Greenfield International Stadium in Trivandrum is a state of the art facility built with a lush green outfield which is suitable enough to also stage football. With a capacity of 50,000, the stadium has a huge accommodation to fit in massive crowds that may arrive to witness the Chennai Super Kings ply their trade against their rivals. The only international match that the ground has staged thus far was the T20 between India and New Zealand in November 2017.

Also, with the West Indies due to tour India later this year, one of the ODIs between the sides might also be held at Trivandrum after Kochi was eliminated from the race following vocal protests against playing there.

#3 Maharashtra Cricket Association Stadium, Pune

The Qualifier 2 and the Eliminator of the 2018 IPL had already been allotted to the Maharashtra Cricket Association Stadium in Pune

The home ground of Dhoni's previous IPL franchise while the Chennai Super Kings were absent from the IPL for two seasons, the Maharashtra Cricket Association Stadium in Pune is one of the frontrunners for replacing Chennai this year. Having been the home ground for the now-defunct Rising Pune Supergiants in 2016 and 2017, the Pune ground can be a favorite for the return of Dhoni and company.

It has already been allotted the Eliminator and the Qualifier 2 in the 2018 edition after the Maharashtra Cricket Association's plea to the BCCI to conduct two of the final four matches of the season by virtue of the Supergiants being runners-up in 2017.

#2 Saurashtra Cricket Association Stadium, Rajkot

The Saurashtra Cricket Association Stadium in Saurashtra can fit in 28,000 spectators

A fairly new ground by itself, the Saurashtra Cricket Association Stadium in Rajkot provides a batting-friendly track, something which the likes of Shane Watson, Dhoni, Suresh Raina and Dwayne Bravo can fully exploit. The stadium has hosted 2 ODIs and T20s each so far, with a solitary Test in 2016 resulting in a draw where both India and England scored big runs batting first.

The city can fit in 28,000 spectators and its Lord's-like media box forms one of the attractions, with a sporting complex around the ground to host other sports like badminton, volleyball, and basketball. The stadium made its international debut in 2013, with both T20 internationals witnessing big scores batting first.

#1 Jharkhand Cricket Association Stadium, Ranchi

The Jharkhand Cricket Association Stadium in Ranchi has hosted IPL matches in 2014 and 2015 as well

The home ground of Mahendra Singh Dhoni, Ranchi might turn out to be the ideal replacement for Chennai. Not only does it hold an advantage over others because of Dhoni's popularity with the fans, but also because its surface is similarly slow to the MA Chidambaram Stadium. The ground has hosted IPL matches in the past in 2014, as the home ground of the Kolkata Knight Riders, as well as 2015, most notably the Second Qualifier in 2015 being held in the city.

Thus far, the venue has staged a solitary Test, which was between India and Australia in 2017, 4 ODIs and 2 T20 Internationals.