'More sensationalism than truth' - Fan reveals unheard story of MS Dhoni and Irfan Pathan’s ‘incredible bond’ amid hookah controversy

Published - 06 Sept 2025, 18:08 IST | Updated - 06 Sept 2025, 18:32 IST

Recently, an old clip has gone viral in which Irfan Pathan mentions a story of favouritism in the Indian team during his playing days. During the 2012 tour of Australia, the Baroda all-rounder heard that then India captain MS Dhoni had said in an interview that he wasn't happy with his bowling. He said that he had asked Dhoni about this, and the latter told him that there was no issue with his bowling.

Pathan went on to say that players would have to set up a hookah in someone's room to please him. He said that he wasn't someone who would do that in order to get opportunities in the team. While the cricketer-turned-commentator didn't name anyone in particular, fans opined that he was talking about Dhoni.

However, a fan took to his social media account and revealed a story about Pathan and Dhoni's friendship from the time they used to play for India. The fan posted a picture of a miniature bat with Dhoni and Pathan's autographs on it. He said that the two legendary cricketers had signed it and asked him to keep it with him as a symbol of their friendship.

"Irfan Pathan and MS Dhoni's friendship is something I've had the privilege of witnessing firsthand. I was managing Dhoni and a few other cricketers, and during a Pepsi shoot, Irfan, Mahi, and I were hanging out in a van. They were given miniature bats to sign, and what they did next was a testament to their incredible bond," the fan wrote on Instagram.

"On one side of a bat, they autographed each other's names, with a cheesy line saying this is a permanent inscription of their friendship. They told me to keep it as a witness to their bond, and I still have it. The recent news circulating about them brought back memories of those days and many other stories of their friendship. Based on what I've seen, I believe the stories are more sensationalism than truth," he added.