Shifting IPL matches out of Mumbai not solution to drought: MS Dhoni

Amid the furore over holding IPL matches in drought-hit Maharashtra, India’s limited over skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni said on Sunday that shifting matches will not resolve the perennial crisis as it requires a “long-term” solution.

Amid the furore over holding IPL matches in drought-hit Maharashtra, India’s limited over skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni said on Sunday that shifting matches will not resolve the perennial crisis as it requires a “long-term” solution.

Rising Pune Supergiants' captain M S Dhoni bats in the nets during the practice session in Mumbai. (PTI Photo)

“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.

The dire situation over potable water in the state has sparked a raging debate over the suitability of playing IPL games in the state, besides leading to a PIL filed in the Bombay High Court challenging the use of large quantity of water for maintaining pitches despite the grave water crisis.

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

Three big cities in Maharashtra - Mumbai, Pune and Nagpur - are to play host to a total of 20 games, out of which one has already been held yesterday at the Wankhede Stadium.

“Whether IPL’s match number 5, 6 or 7 happens or not, I don’t think it makes much of a difference,” said Dhoni at the media conference where he was announced as brand ambassador of mobile handset Lava.

“But we have to look at a long-term solution... How we ensure water is sent to those areas where there is water shortage.

“From what I have seen on TV quite a few dams are there, where only one or two per cent water is left. So we have to look at a long-term solution,” Dhoni said.

“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,” said the wicketkeeper-batsman.