Why Whistle is Banned in Chepauk for T20 World Cup 2026?

The ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 got underway on February 7 and it was a thrilling opening day with six teams in action. A similar action unfolded on day two as well and this throws a clear picture of what will follow over the next month.

The MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai was also host to one of the games on the opening two days of the tournament. It was the NZ vs AFG T20 World Cup match and the ground saw over 21,000 fans attending the game.

On a ground, where whistles roar, there were none of them and it caught the attention of many fans. “Whistle podu” is the tagline of the IPL franchise CSK, which is among the best teams in IPL. Hence, it was shocking to see the whistle ban in Chepauk since it is the identification of this ground.

Why is Whistle Banned in Chepauk Stadium?

There was not a single whistle there in the ground for this match as they have been banned by the local police. According to the Deccan Chronicle, there were multiple checks at entry points to ensure no whistles were brought into the stadium and hawkers have been told not to sell them outside.

The local police has banned the whistles at the MA Chidambaram Stadium (Chepauk) keeping in mind the Tamil Nadu Assembly elections. This is because the whistle is the election symbol of Tamil Vetri Kazhagam (TVK), the political party formed by actor Vijay and they don’t want any mishap there in the stadium, especially during the global event.

The decision to ban whistles at the stadium is solely taken by the police. The development was confirmed by Tamil Nadu Cricket Association (TNCA), stating that stadium authorities had nothing to do with it and the ban is not related to implications by the International Cricket Council (ICC) or the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI).

Over the years, various stadiums have banned fans from taking water bottles, power banks and umbrellas due to security reasons. But with whistles getting added to the list, this has become a hot topic in Chennai with fans criticizing the local police.

Which Matches will Chennai Host in T20 World Cup 2026?

Not just the New Zealand vs Afghanistan game, but the Chennai whistle ban in T20 World Cup 2026 will be for the entire tournament. The MA Chidambaram Stadium, which is one of the best cricket stadiums in the world, will host six more games in the World Cup.

This means that fans will be allowed to take whistles in the stadium only during the Indian Premier League (IPL) now, where Chennai Super Kings will play their home games. Here is the full schedule of upcoming matches to be played in Chennai in the T20 World Cup 2026:

• Feb 8: Afghanistan vs New Zealand at 11:00 AM
• Feb 10: New Zealand vs UAE at 3:00 PM
• Feb 13: Netherlands vs USA at 7:00 PM
• Feb 15: Namibia vs USA at 3:00 PM
• Feb 17: Canada vs New Zealand at 11:00 AM
• Feb 19: Afghanistan vs Canada at 7:00 PM
• Feb 26: TBA vs TBA, Super Eight at 7:00 PM