Hookah, rumours & locker-room banter—Dhoni & Irfan Pathan’s old saga resurfaces. Here’s the cheeky lowdown you can’t miss.
What happens in the dressing room… doesn’t always stay there.
Sometimes it leaks out years later, garnished with a hookah, a dash of nostalgia, and a whole lot of memes. That’s exactly what happened when Irfan Pathan casually dropped some spicy tidbits about his playing days under MS Dhoni’s captaincy.
And just like that, cricket Twitter (sorry, X) lit up faster than a powerplay six. 🌪️
The Backstory – A Smoky Affair
Recently, in an interview with SportsTak, Irfan Pathan revisited his not-so-happy exit from Team India. He said there was “a lack of communication” when he got dropped—even after bowling a five-wicket haul in his last ODI. Ouch.
Then came the bouncer: Pathan hinted that Dhoni liked hookah sessions, and those who joined him allegedly got a bit more… captain’s favour.
Now, whether this was fact, gossip, or just a casual “chai pe charcha” gone wrong, one thing is clear: cricket fans didn’t need a DRS to declare this story “Not Out” for entertainment.
Hookah in the Dressing Room?
Picture this: after a sweaty day on the field, the team gathers in the hotel room. Some stretch, some scroll Instagram, and—if you believe the gossip—Mahi bhai might have been puffing on a hookah, with teammates joining in for bonding.
Hookah breaks > Net sessions? Who knows. But it sure adds a smoky twist to India’s golden cricketing era.
As one cheeky fan tweeted:
👉 “Forget ‘Men in Blue’, they should’ve been called ‘Men in Smoke’.”
Irfan vs Mahi: The Drama
Pathan recalled a 2008 Australia tour chat with Dhoni. Reports said Dhoni wasn’t happy with Irfan’s bowling. When Irfan asked directly, Dhoni reassured him—“No Irfan, everything’s going fine as per plan.”
Cut to years later, Irfan admits he felt let down. He adds:
“I don’t have a habit of setting up hookah in someone’s room or talking about this.”
A clear jab? Fans thought so.
And the internet, being the internet, turned it into meme-fest 2.0.
Twitter Reacts:
- One fan posted: “Dhoni had a helicopter shot. Irfan had a hookah shot. Guess which survived longer.”
- Another joked: “So team selection was decided over flavours? Mint = Playing XI. Double apple = 12th man.”
- And of course: “From hookah parties to World Cup glory—MSD really knew team management.”
Pathan’s Career Curveball
Let’s be fair to Irfan. He was a swing magician, India’s answer to Wasim Akram, and even lifted the 2007 T20 World Cup trophy with a Man of the Match performance in the final.
But his career ended abruptly in 2012. Why? Injuries, inconsistency, or team politics? Officially, no one knows. But the whispers of hookah lounges and captain’s preferences make the story juicier.
And now, in 2025, the resurfacing interview has made sure that fans are still debating if Irfan was treated unfairly.
Dhoni’s Silence = Vintage Dhoni
And what about Captain Cool? Classic Dhoni move—silence. While memes and gossip fly around, Mahi is probably chilling in Ranchi, petting his dogs, and riding bikes. The man has built his brand on not reacting, and honestly, that might be his most powerful shot after the helicopter.
Why This Matters (Beyond the Smoke)
Behind the cheeky hookah headlines lies a bigger discussion—team management and communication in Indian cricket.
- Did captains have favourites?
- Did off-field bonding influence on-field chances?
- Were some players sidelined despite performance?
These questions aren’t new. From Sourav’s era to Kohli’s, every captain has faced them. Irfan’s comments just reopen the chat room.
Fans Love the Drama
If cricket is religion in India, then dressing room gossip is its Bollywood masala. People don’t just want to know the score—they want the scoop. And this Dhoni–Irfan saga provided exactly that.
Memes, reels, and throwback clips are flooding timelines. Cricket gossip blogs are milking it. And fans? They’re sipping this hookah-flavoured tea like it’s the IPL finals.
Turns out, Dhoni’s biggest ‘smoke’ signal wasn’t his calm face on the field—it was in the hotel room. 🚬😉
So, what’s your take?
- Was Irfan Pathan unfairly treated?
- Or is this just another overcooked gossip tale?
💬 Drop your views in the comments.
🔁 Share this blog with your cricket gang.
📲 And hey, don’t forget to follow us—because if there’s smoke, there’s always more cricket fire coming.
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