September 3, 2025

It’s been exactly 30 days since Mohammed Siraj’s magical ball bowled out Gus Atkinson, helping India tie a thrilling series at the Oval. But the Indian cricket team has been unusually quiet since then, with tours to Bangladesh delayed and Sri Lanka’s white-ball challenge declined. But soon, the team will return to the field in the T20 Asia Cup, aiming to defend their title with fiery players like Suryakumar Yadav leading the charge. Meanwhile, the buzz isn’t just on the pitch! Reports have flown around about players visiting the new Centre of Excellence in Bengaluru, gearing up for a packed schedule of Tests and white-ball matches this year and next, including games against Australia, South Africa, and New Zealand. Amidst all this excitement, an old interview of Irfan Pathan from five years ago has grabbed attention. Pathan, a former left-arm swing all-rounder, shared a story about a chat he had with MS Dhoni during a 2008 triangular series in Australia. He recalled Dhoni reassuring him despite some media chatter that Pathan wasn’t bowling well. Pathan said, "Mahi bhai said, 'No Irfan, there is nothing like this, everything's going as per plans.' When you get a reply like this, then you believe that okay, you do what you can.” He also cautioned against seeking too many explanations, saying, “Also, if you keep asking for explanations again and again after that, you hurt your self-respect.” However, Pathan also added a mysterious note, "I don't have a habit of setting up hookah in someone's room or talking about this. Everyone knows. Sometimes if you don't speak about it, it's better.” These last comments sparked a social media sensation, shining a light on Dhoni’s past, especially his casual use of hookah — something never really secret amongst cricket circles before. But fans and experts say this drama is needless! Dhoni’s private choices, done in "Dhoni time," are his own business. What matters most is his incredible cricket leadership! Remember, he was the captain when India won the T20 World Cup in 2007, the 50-over World Cup in 2011, the Champions Trophy in 2013, and became top of the Test rankings in 2009. While Dhoni might have had favorites, it was always based on who could handle pressure and deliver in tough moments. Did this hurt the team? "Definitely not," just as Dhoni once famously said. Interestingly, the hookah story comes as rumors swirl about Dhoni possibly taking on a big mentoring role with the Board of Control for Cricket in India, guiding men and women cricketers across levels. Dhoni, now 44, has kept his public appearances rare post-retirement, which only adds to his mysterious charm. Dhoni’s rise was sudden too. In 2007, with senior stars skipping the first T20 World Cup, Dhoni got his chance and soon became captain for all formats. He stepped down from Test captaincy in 2014 but led white-ball teams until 2016, leaving behind an experienced squad. Today, many agree that a hookah story can’t and shouldn’t stain MS Dhoni’s shining legacy — one built on triumph, grit, and cool captaincy. The cricket world remembers the champion, not the smoke. Catch all latest Cricket News, Schedules, Rankings, and Live Scores. Follow stars like Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma, and Shubman Gill and stay updated on everything, including R Ashwin’s IPL Retirement.

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Tags: Ms dhoni, Irfan pathan, Cricket, India cricket team, Hookah controversy, Mohammed siraj,