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Irfan Pathan Accuses Dhoni Of Favouritism: "Didn't Have Habit Of Setting Up Hookah"

Jatin

Irfan Pathan's dig at MS Dhoni has resurfaced [Source: @MostlyDhoni, @worshipVK/x.com]Irfan Pathan's dig at MS Dhoni has resurfaced [Source: @MostlyDhoni, @worshipVK/x.com]

Irfan Pathan’s career with India was nothing short of a rollercoaster. He started off as a swing bowler who could make the new ball talk, then grew into an all-rounder under Greg Chappell’s watch.

Irfan Pathan’s Veiled Comment On MS Dhoni Resurfaces

Yet, despite scoring runs and picking wickets, his international journey ended far earlier than most fans expected. Now, an old interview from 2020 has suddenly gone viral again, where Irfan Pathan seemed to take a veiled dig at MS Dhoni while talking about his abrupt exit from the national setup.

Pathan opened up on SportsTak about what really went down during the 2008 Australia series. Back then, media reports had suggested that Dhoni wasn’t happy with his bowling. Curious to clear the air, Irfan went straight to the skipper.

"Yes, I asked him. During the 2008 Australia series, Mahi'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 about this. Sometimes, the statements are twisted in the media, so I also wanted to clarify. Mahi 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," Pathan revealed.

The Hookah Remark That Raised Eyebrows

But the part that really caught everyone’s attention was when Irfan appeared to indirectly target MS Dhoni’s inner circle culture. He made it clear he wasn’t someone who would try to win favour off the field.

"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," he said.

The comment has resurfaced years later and has once again sparked chatter among fans with many seeing it as a rare glimpse into the dynamics of the dressing room during Dhoni’s reign.

Pathan's Career That Ended Too Soon

Pathan’s numbers still tell the story of what could have been. In 29 Tests, 120 ODIs and 24 T20Is, he scored 2821 runs with a century and eleven fifties, while also picking up 301 wickets. His Test hat-trick against Pakistan remains iconic and in his final ODI for India, he even bagged a five-wicket haul. Despite such performances, his career petered out in mysterious fashion.