September 3, 2025

Irfan Pathan, the fiery left-handed all-rounder, has once again stirred a spicy debate about his fallout with cricket legend MS Dhoni. In a recent interview with SportsTak, Pathan revealed how his exit from the Indian cricket team under Dhoni lacked proper communication. But that wasn’t all—he went on to hint that Dhoni, known as a calm captain, used to enjoy hookah sessions and might have shown favoritism to players who joined him. This isn’t the first time such rumors have popped up. Back in 2018, former Australian skipper George Bailey shared a juicy tidbit about Dhoni's hookah habit during his IPL days with Chennai Super Kings and Rising Pune Supergiants. Bailey said, "He likes smoking a bit of the sheesha or the hookah. So, he quite often would set that up in his room, and it was very much open-door policy. You would go in and quite often find a lot of younger players there. For India or a lot of other cricket teams, it can be hierarchical, but he certainly broke that down.” But Pathan was clear in his interview, stating, "Neither have I got a habit of going to rooms and setting up hookah, nor of asking for the same thing again and again." Despite that, the cricket world exploded on social media with tons of memes poking fun at the idea of players earning their places by being Dhoni’s hookah pals! Pictures that surfaced in 2024 showing Dhoni enjoying hookah at a function further fueled the discussion. Fans fondly recalled the era of Dhoni's teams, wondering if those hookah parties somehow brewed the magic behind India’s success, like the iconic 2013 Champions Trophy win. While no one seriously believes that match selections were made around hookah pipes, the gossip opens a colorful window into the personal bonds and vibes players shared with their captain. Irfan Pathan’s candid remarks hint at unresolved feelings about the selections and team environment during Dhoni’s reign. From a cricket fan’s view, this recent fireworks show adds an extra dash of spice to the storied tale of one of India’s greatest captains and the players around him. Whatever the truth about hookah and favoritism, it's clear that MS Dhoni’s legacy is still firing up passionate debates and lively chats across the cricket world.

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Tags: Irfan pathan, Ms dhoni, Hookah, Cricket controversies, Ipl, Team dynamics,