Whistles have been a key part of the Cricket culture in Chennai. While other stadiums use drums and conch shells for sound, Chepauk Stadium stands out for its whistles. The local IPL team, Chennai Super Kings, has even adopted “Whistle Podu,” meaning “Blow the whistle,” as their slogan. In 2016, the team’s official fan group became known as the “Whistle Podu Army.”
However, fans may not be able to blow whistles in the stadium moving forward. During the New Zealand vs. Afghanistan match on February 8, police seized whistles from fans at the gates.
The tickets do not explicitly state a ban on whistles, but they do prohibit musical instruments. This raises the question—are whistles considered musical instruments?
On February 9, the Tamil Nadu Cricket Association (TNCA) stated that there was no specific ban on whistles. It was the police’s decision to enforce this restriction for security reasons, particularly during the election period.
After some local political backlash, the TNCA changed its stance, citing ICC guidelines that bar any noise-making items like whistles, vuvuzelas, and horns from the World Cup events. This policy will be enforced in both India and Sri Lanka.
Read also: Netherlands wins against Namibia by 7 wickets in the 2026 T20 WC.
What is the political controversy?
The controversy arises from claims that the DMK-led Tamil Nadu government is using World Cup security protocols to limit the visibility of actor-politician Vijay’s new party, Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK).
On January 22, 2026, the Election Commission allotted the “whistle” as the official election symbol for TVK for the upcoming state assembly elections. TVK leaders accused the ruling DMK of fearing their party’s rising popularity and banning their symbol from a cultural setting where whistling is significant.
Fans have complained that whistles are still being sold by vendors outside the stadium, leading to claims of inconsistent enforcement.
Currently, Chepauk is hosting the New Zealand vs. UAE match. The UAE opted to bat first, while the Kiwis aim for their second consecutive win.
