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Former cricketer Yograj Singh, who is also known as the father of World Cup-winning all-rounder Yuvraj Singh, has once again stirred controversy with his explosive remarks against some of Indian cricket’s biggest names. Yograj has levelled serious allegations against former India captain MS Dhoni as well as legendary figures Kapil Dev and Bishan Singh Bedi, accusing them of mistreating players and contributing to the downfall of several promising careers.
The debate resurfaced after an old video of Irfan Pathan went viral, where the former India all-rounder recalled a revealing conversation he had with Dhoni regarding his place in the team. Pathan, who was dropped from the side in 2012 despite putting up a match-winning performance with five wickets in what turned out to be his last ODI, hinted at the internal dynamics that affected his career. In the clip, Irfan also mentioned the subject of a hookah, remarking, “I don’t have a habit of setting up a hookah for someone. At times, it’s better not to speak. My focus has always been on performing, and that’s what I prefer to do.”
Though Pathan did not name anyone directly, fans on social media quickly linked the reference to MS Dhoni, who was the captain at the time. The resurfaced discussion once again brought back long-standing accusations that Dhoni played a role in sidelining several senior and in-form players, including Irfan.
Reacting strongly to the matter, Yograj Singh voiced his support for Pathan and others who have spoken out. In a recent interview, he said, “It is not just about Irfan Pathan. Gautam Gambhir, Harbhajan Singh, and Virender Sehwag have also openly spoken about such things. MS Dhoni doesn’t want to answer these questions because he knows he is guilty.”
Yograj didn’t stop there. He went on to lash out at former Indian greats Kapil Dev and Bishan Singh Bedi as well, grouping them with Dhoni in his criticism. “I can talk about Bishan Singh Bedi, Kapil Dev, and MS Dhoni. The way they treated players was shameful. They treated players like dirt. They were wrong, and I can say that openly. Our cricket team, and the careers of several talented players, were destroyed because of the way these captains handled things,” he alleged.
With his fiery remarks, Yograj Singh has reignited a long-standing debate in Indian cricket about internal politics, favoritism, and the role of influential captains in shaping or derailing the careers of talented cricketers.
