Overview
- Michael Hussey said MS Dhoni kept his hotel room open at all hours during IPL seasons, where players gathered to talk cricket, share food and, for some, enjoy shisha.
- Hussey recounted Dhoni telling players to stay relaxed and avoid disputing umpire calls as part of a bid to win the Fair Play Award, a tactic he said eased pressure on young Indians.
- He added that despite Dhoni’s stature as a wicketkeeper, he rarely saw him practice with the gloves, instead spending long sessions hitting thousands of balls in batting nets.
- The anecdotes were shared on The Overlap Cricket and Stick to Cricket shows and echo earlier remarks from George Bailey, with fresh coverage linking them to a resurfaced Irfan Pathan interview.
- Reports note Dhoni has been retained by Chennai Super Kings for IPL 2026 and has made public appearances and trained ahead of the new season.