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Sports play an integral part of culture in the Indian state of Maharashtra. Cricket is the most popular spectator sport in the state. Other popular sports include kabaddi and kho kho, which are played in rural areas, and field hockey, badminton, and table tennis, which are more common in urban areas, schools, and colleges. In the state's southern rural regions, annual wrestling championships such as Hind Kesari and Maharashtra Kesari are held. Games like Viti-Dandu and variations of Tag are played among children.
The Mumbai cricket team represents Mumbai, Palghar, and Thane districts in Indian domestic cricket, whilst the Maharashtra cricket team represents the rest of the state. Maharashtra Cricket Association (MCA) governs cricket in the state except for the Mumbai region. The state is home to international standard stadiums including Wankhede stadium in Mumbai and Maharashtra Cricket Association Stadium in Pune. In the Indian Premier League (IPL), the Mumbai Indians franchise represents the state from Mumbai; the women's team plays in the Women's Premier League. The Maharashtra Open, a tennis ATP Tour 250 tournament, is annually held in Balewadi Stadium, Pune.