Munaf Patel reveals shocking twist in Dhoni's 'Hookah' controversy

Former India fast bowler and 2011 World Cup winner Munaf Patel has reacted to the recent controversy surrounding MS Dhoni. The debate started after former India all-rounder Irfan Pathan claimed that Dhoni preferred players who took part in his off-field hookah sessions. The remark quickly went viral and sparked discussions among cricket fans.

Coming out in support of his former captain, Munaf Patel dismissed the claims and defended Dhoni's leadership. Reacting to the controversy, he said, "Retired hoke kuch bhi bol raha hai," suggesting that the comments should not be taken seriously. His response quickly went viral on social media, with many fans sharing the clip.

Munaf's reaction has added a new twist to the ongoing debate over Dhoni's leadership and the hookah remarks. While the controversy continues to divide opinions, his strong support for the former India captain has become a major talking point among cricket fans. Watch the viral video below.

Munaf Patel slams former cricketer for speaking out only after retirement

Munaf Patel criticised former cricketers for speaking about dressing-room matters only after retiring from the game. The former India pacer said that if any player had concerns about the team environment or captaincy, they should have raised those issues while they were still playing instead of talking about them years later.

Recalling his time under MS Dhoni, Munaf praised the former India captain's leadership style. He said Dhoni trusted his bowlers and allowed them to follow their own plans. "Dhoni Indians mein bahut accha captain tha. Woh mujhe apna kaam karne deta tha. Plan A mera hota tha. Agar woh work nahi karta, tab woh Plan B deta tha. Bahut simple tha," Munaf said. (Dhoni was one of the best Indian captains. He allowed me to do my job. Plan A was mine, and if it did not work, he would suggest Plan B. It was very simple.)

Munaf also questioned why some former players were making such claims only after retirement. "Agar aap sach mein bolna chahte the, toh us waqt bol dete. Ab retire hone ke baad, kuch bhi bol sakte hain, lekin uska koi matlab nahi hai," he said. (If you really wanted to speak the truth, you should have said it back then. After retirement, anyone can say anything, but it has no meaning.)

He added that Dhoni has never responded to such comments, saying, "Uski khamoshi hi uska jawab hai. Woh kuch bol hi nahi raha, isliye woh Dhoni hai." (His silence is his answer. He does not respond to such remarks, and that is why he is Dhoni.)

"Tendulkar, Sehwag, Gambhir, Sharma toh kabhi nahi gaye" — Munaf's blunt question to Dhoni's critics

2011 World Cup winner and former India pacer Munaf Patel has come out in support of his former captain, MS Dhoni, amid the controversy surrounding the hookah remarks. The debate began after former India all-rounder Irfan Pathan claimed that Dhoni preferred players who would set up a hookah for him. His comments sparked widespread discussion among cricket fans.

Responding to the controversy, Munaf said that many members of the Indian team, including himself, never took part in those gatherings. He also questioned why such claims were being made years after the incidents allegedly took place and said no player was forced to attend.

Without directly naming Irfan Pathan, Munaf suggested that the person making the allegations had himself arranged the hookah during those days. "Aap khud hookah bana rahe the na? Toh phir kyun bana rahe the? Logon ko yeh problem hai ki unhe uske room mein jaake hookah banana padta tha. Agar aapme wo self-respect hoti, toh aap jaate hi nahi," he said. (You were making the hookah yourself, right? Then why did you do it? People now say they had to go to his room and prepare the hookah. If you had self-respect, you could have refused to go.)

Munaf also named several former India players who, according to him, never attended those sessions. "Munaf Patel aur Gautam Gambhir ne kabhi aisa nahi kiya. Ishant Sharma, Virender Sehwag, Sachin Tendulkar ne kabhi aisa nahi kiya. Ab kyun ladai kar rahe ho iske liye?" (Munaf Patel, Gautam Gambhir, Ishant Sharma, Virender Sehwag, and Sachin Tendulkar never did that. So why are you raising this issue now?) His comments have added another twist to the ongoing debate surrounding Dhoni's leadership and the hookah controversy.

Fans react to Munaf Patel's bold support for MS Dhoni

The controversy involving MS Dhoni, Irfan Pathan, and Munaf Patel has sparked strong reactions from cricket fans on social media. Many fans supported Munaf for defending his former captain and praised him for speaking openly on the issue.

Some fans agreed with Munaf's view that if any player had concerns about the dressing-room culture, they should have raised them during their playing days instead of after retirement. Others, however, felt that former cricketers also have the right to share their experiences and opinions. Here is how the fans reacted on X:

Overall, the debate has divided cricket fans, with many continuing to discuss Dhoni's leadership and Irfan Pathan's claims. As the controversy grows, Munaf Patel's comments have become one of the biggest talking points among Indian cricket followers.