Overview

• The 2020 interview clip shows Irfan Pathan saying he doesn’t “set up hookah in someone’s room,” a line widely interpreted as a veiled reference to MS Dhoni and alleged favouritism.
• In the same chat, Pathan recalled asking Dhoni during the 2008 Australia series about reports he was unhappy with Pathan’s bowling, and said Dhoni replied there was “nothing like this.”
• Old visuals of Dhoni using a hookah at a private function and a resurfaced image with RP Singh have circulated widely, fueling a meme‑driven conversation across social platforms.
• Coverage cites George Bailey’s 2018 recollection of Dhoni hosting hookah sessions as team bonding, alongside Manoj Tiwary’s separate comments about perceived preferences under Dhoni.
• Reports also revisit that Pathan’s India career effectively ended in 2012 despite a five‑wicket haul in his last ODI, with selection decisions described as known only to management and selectors.