Ishan Kishan slammed by CSK fans [Source: X and Screengrab]
Ishan Kishan turned out to be the biggest heartbreak for the Chennai Super Kings faithful on May 18 as Sunrisers Hyderabad crushed CSK’s playoff hopes in front of the Chepauk crowd.
The left-handed batter played a sensational knock of 70 runs off just 47 deliveries and completely shifted the momentum in Hyderabad’s favour. However, it was not just his batting performance that became the talking point after the match, but also his controversial gestures towards the CSK supporters.
Ishan Kishan’s Celebration Triggers Anger Among CSK Fans
Kishan first brought up his half-century in only 37 balls before continuing his aggressive approach to guide SRH closer to victory. After Hyderabad sealed the crucial win, the wicketkeeper-batter was seen mocking the iconic “Whistle Podu” gesture associated with Chennai Super Kings and the Chepauk atmosphere.
The incident quickly went viral on social media as several fans accused Kishan of disrespecting the CSK crowd.
Videos circulating online also appeared to show him gesturing towards supporters and signalling them to leave the stadium following Chennai’s elimination from IPL 2026 contention.
The reaction sparked heavy criticism online, with many CSK supporters calling out the aggressive celebration and labelling it unnecessary.
Despite the backlash, Ishan Kishan did not appear bothered by the criticism and later added more fuel to the controversy through his Instagram post.
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Kishan’s Instagram Caption Adds More Spice
Shortly after the game, at around 1 AM IST on May 19, Kishan shared pictures of SRH players celebrating the win and wickets on Instagram. However, it was his caption that grabbed the attention of cricket fans across the internet.
He wrote, “Only thing louder than the whistles was the bat, into the playoffs.”
The caption was widely interpreted as another direct dig at Chennai’s famous “Whistle Podu” culture at Chepauk. Many fans believed Kishan was celebrating SRH’s qualification while mocking the atmosphere created by CSK supporters throughout the game.
Within just a few hours, the post reportedly crossed 475k likes and the comment section was flooded with mixed reactions. While SRH supporters praised Kishan’s confidence and match-winning performance, several CSK fans criticised him for what they described as disrespectful behaviour.
Let's take a look at how did CSK fans react to Ishan Kishan's Instagram post:
Instagram Comments on Ishan Kishan's post [Source: Screengrab]
Instagram Comments on Ishan Kishan's post [Source: Screengrab]
Instagram Comments on Ishan Kishan's post [Source: Screengrab]
SRH Crush CSK’s Playoff Dreams at Chepauk
It eventually ended as a disappointing night for Chennai Super Kings despite the presence of MS Dhoni on the field. Sunrisers Hyderabad successfully chased down the target with five wickets in hand and one over to spare.
For Chennai, Dewald Brevis emerged as the top scorer with a rapid 44 off 27 balls at a strike rate of 162.96. CSK struggled during the middle phase after losing important wickets and reaching 94/3 at the end of 10 overs.
Ruturaj Gaikwad, Urvil Patel and Sanju Samson failed to make significant contributions at the top, leaving the lower middle order with the responsibility of pushing the total towards respectability.
During the chase, Heinrich Klaasen smashed a crucial 47 off just 26 deliveries, while Ishan Kishan anchored the innings with his match-winning knock. SRH comfortably completed the chase and sealed their place in the IPL 2026 playoffs right at Chennai’s home fortress, Chepauk.
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