Former Indian all-rounder Irfan Pathan has reignited a long-standing controversy with his candid remarks about former captain MS Dhoni, just as reports surface about the BCCI considering Dhoni for a mentorship role with Team India. Pathan’s resurfaced statements have sparked heated debates on social media, shedding light on his rocky exit from international cricket and his perception of favouritism during Dhoni’s captaincy.
Pathan had once openly stated that he was not a player who would go out of his way to impress his skipper off the field. Taking a subtle yet sharp dig at Dhoni, the former pacer said he was never the kind to “set up a hookah in someone’s room” to earn favour. Instead, he stressed that his entire focus remained on performing for India, not on forming personal alliances.
The Baroda-born cricketer’s career took a dramatic turn after 2012. Despite claiming a five-wicket haul against Sri Lanka, which turned out to be his final ODI for India, he found himself sidelined from the squad. Many fans and pundits have since argued that Pathan’s career was mishandled by selectors, with Dhoni’s role in his exclusion often coming under scrutiny.
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In a resurfaced interview with Sports Tak, Pathan recounted a candid conversation with Dhoni during the 2008 Australia series. Media reports at the time suggested Dhoni was unhappy with Pathan’s bowling, which led the left-arm pacer to seek clarity directly from his captain. Dhoni dismissed the claims, telling him everything was “going as per plan.” Pathan said he chose not to probe further, as repeatedly questioning leadership decisions would have compromised his self-respect.
Ms dhoni used to select those players who set hukka for him, i denied and i got dropped – Irfan Pathan pic.twitter.com/tlbFPvYZNU
— Popa 🇮🇳 (@rafalekohli) September 1, 2025
Reflecting on that period, Irfan Pathan said, “I don’t have the habit of doing things like setting up hookah in someone’s room or constantly trying to please others. A cricketer’s job is to perform, and that’s where my focus always was.”
Irfan Pathan’s numbers speak volumes about his contribution. In a career spanning 29 Tests, 120 ODIs, and 24 T20Is, he scored over 2,800 international runs and picked up 100 Test wickets, 173 ODI wickets, and 28 T20I wickets. Known for swinging the ball both ways and for his match-winning spells, Pathan was once hailed as India’s next Kapil Dev.
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His recent comments have once again ignited discussions about India’s selection dynamics during Dhoni’s era, reminding fans of Pathan’s unfulfilled potential despite a promising start.
