Cricket
oi-Gaurav Sharma
Chennai Super Kings have taken their on-field rivalry with Royal Challengers Bengaluru off the pitch, lodging a formal complaint with the Board of Control for Cricket in India over alleged misconduct during their IPL 2026 clash on April 5 at M. Chinnaswamy Stadium.
The Chennai franchise has raised concerns over what it describes as “offensive” stadium music and inappropriate crowd engagement, along with claims that its supporters faced harassment inside the venue. The complaint follows a high-scoring encounter that saw RCB defeat CSK by 43 runs, extending their recent dominance in the rivalry.
Chennai Super Kings filed a formal complaint with the BCCI against Royal Challengers Bengaluru regarding alleged offensive music, inappropriate DJ commentary, and fan harassment during their IPL 2026 match on April 5 at M. Chinnaswamy Stadium.
At the centre of the controversy is a song played during the match that included references such as “dosa, idli, sambar, chutney.” CSK believe the track reduced Tamil culture to stereotypes and crossed the line from sporting banter into disrespect. The franchise also objected to remarks made by the stadium DJ following dismissals of their players, arguing that such commentary unfairly targeted the visiting side.
CSK managing director Kasi Viswanathan said the role of in-stadium entertainment should be to energise the home crowd without singling out opposition players. He confirmed that the franchise has asked the BCCI to review whether guidelines governing match-day conduct were violated.
The song itself has a history linked to the CSK-RCB rivalry. Originally created by independent musician Gana Appu, it has surfaced in previous encounters between the two sides, often drawing mixed reactions. A similar episode last season, involving a pre-match video and a retaliatory response during a game in Chennai, had already highlighted sensitivities around cultural references.
CSK maintain that they have since enforced stricter standards at their home ground, limiting DJ commentary and avoiding targeted remarks about rival players. They now argue that similar restraint was missing during the Bengaluru fixture.
In addition to concerns about music and commentary, the franchise has also flagged alleged harassment of its supporters in the stands, urging the BCCI to examine fan conduct and safety protocols.
On the field, however, RCB delivered a dominant performance. Powered by a late onslaught from Tim David, who struck an unbeaten 70 off 25 balls, the hosts posted a formidable 250/3. Contributions from Devdutt Padikkal and Phil Salt laid the foundation, while a rapid partnership at the death pushed the total well beyond reach.
Chasing 251, CSK struggled to keep up with the required rate despite a fighting half-century from Sarfaraz Khan and useful knocks from Prashant Veer and Jamie Overton. They were eventually bowled out for 207, with Bhuvneshwar Kumar leading the bowling effort for RCB.
