Did Irfan Pathan take a dig at MS Dhoni? Hookah statement creates stir

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Irfan Pathan opens up on 2008 Australian tour
Irfan’s hookah jibe ignites buzz around old MS Dhoni rift
- Here’s the video

Former Indian cricketer Irfan Pathan, known for his sharp match analysis, is making headlines again after a viral hookah remark that seemingly targeted MS Dhoni. Pathan’s latest comment has sparked widespread reactions, adding fuel to the ongoing debates around cricketing legends and their off-field moments.

Irfan Pathan opens up on 2008 Australian tour

In an interview with SportsTak alongside journalist Vikrant Gupta, Irfan recalled the Australia 2008 series, where a media report suggested that Dhoni felt he wasn’t bowling well. Irfan clarified that he approached Dhoni to confirm the statement, only to be reassured that nothing of that sort was said and everything was going according to plan. He added that once a captain gives such clarity, a player should focus on performing rather than repeatedly seeking explanations, as doing so could affect one’s self-respect.

“Yes, I asked him. During the 2008 Australia series, Mahi bhai’s statement came out in the media that Irfan wasn’t bowling well. So I thought I had bowled well throughout the series, so I went and asked Mahi bhai about this. Sometimes, the statements are twisted in the media, so I also wanted to clarify. So 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. Also if you keep asking for explanations again and again after that, you hurt your self-respect,” Irfan stated.

Irfan’s hookah jibe ignites buzz around old MS Dhoni rift

The most talked-about part of the interview came when Irfan took a subtle dig without naming anyone. He hinted that unlike some players, he was never the kind to set up a hookah in someone’s room to stay in their good books, adding that his focus remained firmly on delivering performances on the field.

“Humse na to room mein jaake kisi ke liye hookah set karne ki aadat hai, humein na to humein uske baare mein baar-baar kuredne ki aadat hai kisi cheez ko (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. A cricketer’s job is to perform on the field and that is what I used to focus on,” Irfan further said.

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