Don't mind if IPL is shifted out of Maharashtra, water is more important than cricket: CM Devendra Fadnavis

Don't mind if IPL is shifted out of Maharashtra, water is more important than cricket: CM Devendra Fadnavis

 Devendra-Fadnavis

MUMBAI: Controversy and IPL go hand in hand. While the cricket lovers await the kick off of the million dollar league, water crisis controversy threatens to take the tournament away from Maharashtra. Mumbai Indians and Rising Pune Supergiants are the Maharashtra based franchises and a total of 20 matches is scheduled to be played in Mumbai, Pune and Nagpur.

"Water is more important for us than cricket. So, even if the cricket matches are shifted out of Maharashtra, I don't mind," Fadnavis told reporters in Mumbai.

Several districts of Maharashtra are facing acute water shortage and objections have been raised over the "wastage" of water to maintain cricket grounds across the state. Petitions have been filed against hosting the Indian Premier League in the state at a time when people are finding it tough to arrange water even for their daily needs.

Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis' comments will certainly not sound sweet for cricket lovers of the state,"

"The last moment change can leave a big impact on the tournament, specially from sponsors point of view as it needs some time to create the creatives which in result will generate the eyeballs," says a sports media planning expert.