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Cricket in India is not just a game; it’s an endless soap opera where nostalgia, drama, and humour are concocted in equal measure. And when the script includes a legend like Mahendra Singh Dhoni and an outspoken Irfan Pathan, you know the internet is about to have a field day.
The former left-arm pacer, who once swung matches as easily as he swung the new ball, has taken yet another cheeky jab at Captain Cool, this time, adding an unexpected “hookah twist” to the story.
What followed was a whirlwind of memes, debates, and classic Twitter banter, as fans revisited the highs and lows of an era where Dhoni ruled the dressing room and Indian cricket like a calm but commanding maestro.
Pathan’s Throwback & the Hookah Hint
In a chat with Sports Tak, Pathan revisited his not-so-sweet exit from the Indian team during Dhoni’s captaincy. Recalling the 2008 tri-series against Australia and Sri Lanka, Pathan said he was puzzled by media reports claiming Dhoni wasn’t happy with his bowling.
“When I asked Mahi bhai, he calmly said, ‘No, Irfan, sab theek hai (everything’s fine).’ And like a good teammate, I stopped questioning because of self-respect, you know,” said Pathan.
Then came the spicy twist. Without naming names, Pathan hinted that being in Dhoni’s “good books” or more accurately, his “hookah room,” might have boosted one’s selection chances. “I was never the hookah buddy type,” Pathan chuckled, adding that he just preferred performing on the field.
Internet Reacts: From Drama to Memes
Social media, of course, did what it does best: turned the revelation into a meme carnival. While some accused Pathan of nursing old wounds, Dhoni fans hit back hard, listing the cricketing gems unearthed during Captain Cool’s reign, from Kohli to Rohit, proving that merit trumped smoke rings.
Final Whistle
Whether Pathan’s claims are serious or just a “puff” of nostalgia, one thing is certain: when Dhoni is in the headline, the internet lights up faster than a hookah on match night.
