Cricket in India isn’t just a sport—it’s Bollywood with bats and balls. Heroes, villains, legends, betrayals—every angle has its place. And when an old video of Irfan Pathan hinting at “hookah culture” in MS Dhoni’s dressing room resurfaced this week, the internet did what it does best: turned whispers into wildfire.
What started as a five-year-old casual remark has now spiraled into memes, PR wars, fan fights, and even political-style lobbying theories. Strap in, because this controversy has everything—nostalgia, rebellion, cheeky clapbacks, and of course, the cult of Dhoni.
🔥 How It All Started: A Forgotten Remark
The year was 2020. Irfan Pathan, once India’s swing king and darling of the early 2000s, gave an interview on SportsTak. Among the many candid reflections, one line slipped out:
“Mujhe hookah lagane ki aadat nahi thi kisi ke room mein… mera kaam tha performance dena ground pe.”
(“I didn’t have the habit of setting up hookah in someone’s room… my job was to perform on the field.”)
He didn’t name names, but everyone knew who he was hinting at. Dhoni’s “boys club culture” had often been whispered about, with stories of how some players enjoyed extra proximity to Captain Cool.
Fast forward to September 2025, that dusty interview clip suddenly reappeared on social media—and boom, the “hookah controversy” exploded all over again.
🤯 Memes, Memes, Memes!
When Indian cricket fans smell drama, they turn into meme factories. And boy, did they deliver:
Dhoni with a hookah in the middle of a team huddle.
“Dropped because you didn’t light Captain’s hookah” memes.
Re-edits of Dhoni’s calm smile with captions like “Captain Chillum.”
What could have been a dead remark turned into a cultural moment. It wasn’t just about hookah—it became shorthand for favoritism, groupism, and the dark side of Indian cricket’s dressing room politics.
💥 Pathan Strikes Back: “Fan Wars & PR Lobby”
As memes went viral, Irfan Pathan didn’t stay silent. Instead, he dropped a cryptic grenade on X (formerly Twitter):
“Half-decade-old video surfacing NOW with a twisted context to the statement. Fan war? PR lobby?”
Translation? He believes someone deliberately pushed this clip into circulation—maybe Dhoni fans, maybe anti-Dhoni lobbies, or maybe cricket’s very own PR machines.
It wasn’t just about defending himself—it was about exposing how cricket’s backstage is less about bats and balls, and more about power, loyalty, and image management.
😂 Then Came the Cheeky Clapback
Instead of doubling down, Pathan did something smarter—he embraced the joke. When a fan teased him about hookah on a birthday post for Mohammed Shami, Irfan cheekily replied:
“Main aur @msdhoni saath baith kar pienge ;)”
(“Me and Dhoni will sit together and Drink.”)
Mic drop. With one sarcastic wink, he turned a serious controversy into a playful banter. Fans went wild. Suddenly, this wasn’t just about accusations—it was prime entertainment.
🧩 Why This Story Won’t Die
Now you may ask—why does a silly five-year-old comment blow up like this? Here’s why this controversy hit like wildfire:
1. The Dhoni Aura
MS Dhoni isn’t just a cricketer. He’s a myth, a brand, almost a religion. Any story that dents his spotless image becomes headline gold.
A calm, disciplined “Captain Cool” being linked to hookah parties? That’s narrative whiplash. Fans can’t digest it, critics can’t resist it.
2. The Irfan Pathan Story
Irfan’s career is one of cricket’s biggest “what ifs.”
He burst onto the scene swinging the ball like Wasim Akram’s heir.
He was the youngest to take a Test hat-trick.
But by his late 20s, he was out of the team—despite still performing.
Many believe Dhoni didn’t back him enough. The hookah remark feeds that resentment: Was Pathan edged out for not being “in the inner circle”?
In 2020, this remark was just a footnote. In 2025, social media is ten times louder, nastier, and meme-driven. The same words sound spicier when you slap a Dhoni photo next to them.
The internet doesn’t forget—it waits to resurface.
👥 What Fans Are Saying
On Reddit and Twitter, the divide is brutal:
Dhoni Loyalists:
“Every ex-player suddenly becomes a victim. If you didn’t make it, stop blaming Dhoni. Focus on your own career.”Sympathizers:
“Too many players—Sehwag, Gambhir, Yuvraj, Harbhajan, now Pathan—have hinted at Dhoni’s favoritism. Smoke without fire?”Neutral Fans:
“Hookah or no hookah, this is just fun gossip. Pass the memes.”
This split is what keeps the fire alive—because Dhoni isn’t just a captain, he’s a cultural battlefield.
🔍 The Bigger Picture: Cricket’s Dirty Secret?
Let’s step back. The hookah isn’t really the issue. The deeper nerve is dressing room politics.
Every cricket fan knows:
Some players always get longer ropes.
Some careers end mysteriously.
Off-field bonding matters as much as on-field performance.
Irfan’s remark pulled back the curtain, even if indirectly. It reminded fans that cricket isn’t always “the best eleven.” It’s politics, PR, and personality clashes wrapped in jerseys.
🎭 A Theatre of Legends & Regrets
This controversy plays like a Shakespearean drama:
The King (Dhoni): Beloved, untouchable, but with whispers of shadowy favoritism.
The Exile (Pathan): Talented but sidelined, now speaking truths mixed with bitterness.
The Crowd (Fans): Fiercely divided, turning gossip into gladiator fights.
The Media: Pouring petrol, milking clicks, reviving old wounds.
And the hookah? Just a prop in this never-ending cricket play.
✍️ My Take: The Hookah Is a Metaphor
Whether Dhoni ever smoked hookah with teammates or not doesn’t really matter. What matters is this:
👉 In Indian cricket, off-field relationships often shape on-field careers.
Irfan Pathan used “hookah” as a metaphor for favoritism, inner circles, and hidden dynamics. And fans are lapping it up because it humanizes the myth.
Dhoni isn’t evil, Irfan isn’t bitter—it’s just that cricket, like life, is messier than the scorecard shows.
⚡ Final Word
So, what’s the verdict on this hookah storm?
Irfan Pathan gets a revival in relevance.
Dhoni’s myth takes a tiny scratch, but his loyal fanbase makes sure it heals fast.
Social media gets another week of spicy memes.
And cricket fans? They’re reminded once again that their heroes have shadows too.
🎤 Closing Line
In the end, maybe Irfan said it best with his cheeky reply:
“Main aur Dhoni saath baith kar pienge.”
If that day ever comes, one thing’s certain—every cricket fan in India will be watching. Because in this country, even a puff of smoke can become a storm.