Maharashtra water crisis: Shifting IPL matches not solution to drought, says MS Dhoni

There have been demands to shift all IPL matches out of Maharashtra due to water crisis.

New Delhi: India's limited-overs skipper, Mahendra Singh Dhoni on Sunday spoke on the controversial issue of whether to shift Indian Premier League (IPL) matches from Maharashtra due to the water crisis in the state.

Like many BCCI officials, Dhoni also feels that shifting matches will not resolve the perennial crisis as it requires a "long-term" solution.

"If you see, all these questions are good to hear, I think for us it's more important to seek long-term solutions," said Dhoni when asked about his views about the prevailing drought in Maharashtra.

There have been demands to shift all IPL matches out of Maharashtra due to the crisis in the state as in the on-going season of IPL, Mumbai, Pune and Nagpur - are scheduled to host a total of 20 games.

Dhoni pragmatically said that: "Whether IPL's match number 5, 6 or 7 happens or not, I don't think it makes much of a difference. But we have to look at a long-term solution... How we ensure water is sent to those areas where there is water shortage.”

"I think people talking about whether matches should happen or not, it's more momentarily driven than anything else. I think what's important for us as a county is to see what the long-term solution is and we have to move in that direction."

(With PTI inputs)