Irfan Pathan weighed in on the resurfacing of the old video, suggesting that its sudden reappearance might be driven by PR agendas and ongoing fan wars.

Irfan Pathan Clears the Air on Old ‘Hookah’ Remark About MS Dhoni

Former India all-rounder Irfan Pathan has finally addressed the controversy surrounding his past ‘hookah’ remark on MS Dhoni, which recently resurfaced and went viral on social media. The remark, made jokingly years ago, has now stirred debates online, prompting Pathan to clarify his stance.

Pathan, who was the Player of the Match in India’s 2007 T20 World Cup triumph, played his last international match in 2012 and announced his retirement at the age of 35 in 2020. Once touted as the next big fast-bowling all-rounder after Kapil Dev, his progress was hampered by recurring injuries and limited opportunities later in his career.

The clip of Pathan’s interview with SportsTak resurfaced years later, where he had light-heartedly alleged that Dhoni smoked hookah and preferred those who joined him in those sessions. The video went viral, sparking heated discussions online—some accusing Dhoni of bias in selections, while others criticised Pathan for tarnishing the former captain’s image.

Taking it sportingly, Pathan laughed off the matter when a fan teased him under his birthday wish for Mohammed Shami. The fan asked, “Pathan bhai woh hookey ka kya hua???” To which the former all-rounder cheekily replied, “Mein or @msdhoni sath beth kar pienge ;)”

Pathan bhai woh hookey ka kya hua???
— Akshat (@Akshatgoel1408) September 3, 2025

Irfan Pathan breaks silence on hookah controversy

Pathan also weighed in on the resurfacing of the video, suggesting that its sudden reappearance might be fuelled by PR agendas and ongoing fan wars.

“Half decade old video surfacing NOW with a twisted context to the statement. Fan war? PR lobby?” Pathan questioned in a post on X.

Half decade old video surfacing NOW with a twisted context to the Statement. Fan war? PR lobby?
— Irfan Pathan (@IrfanPathan) September 3, 2025

In the old interaction, Pathan reflected on the limited opportunities he received, recalling how he confronted Dhoni during the 2008 CB series after media reports suggested the captain was unhappy with his bowling. The clip gained traction as Pathan also hinted that Dhoni smoked hookah and appeared to prefer players who joined him in those sessions.

“I don’t have a habit of setting up hookah in someone’s room or talking about this. Everyone knows. Sometimes if you don’t speak about it, it’s better. A cricketer’s job is to perform on the field and that is what I used to focus on,” Pathan clarified.