Former India player Manoj Tiwary opined on the ‘Hookah Gang’ controversy in the team under MS Dhoni’s regime as captain of the team. The incident has recently been trending on social media, after comments made by Irfan Pathan in 2020 as well. Several other former players, including Yograj Singh, have made some strong comments relating to this, hinting at favouritism being a strong thing during MS Dhoni’s stint as captain as well.

“We have seen from close quarters. There were sessions where Hookah was taken and players who were closer to the captain were present in the room. Players were very smart enough to make sure that some buttering was done to get help from the captain if required,” Manoj Tiwary told Inside Sport.

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However, Manoj Tiwary made his international debut under MS Dhoni’s captaincy, and he also played under him during the Indian Premier League (IPL) for the Rising Pune Supergiants as well.

“It was not compulsory for anyone to be there, and only the players who knew that the room is open for Hookah, those are the players who used to go. The players were smart enough to know that who was within close quarters with the captain at that point of time,” Manoj Tiwary shared again.

“Slowly, slowly when the discussions come out of the room the following day, then only the others get to know. It was not restricted, it was open, but it was not something that was open for everyone, it was not as if cards were sent to everyone,” he concluded.