Irfan Pathan's prediction was on point. After a couple of slower deliveries from Jasprit Bumrah, the former India international assumed that that could be the high moment for the pacer to launch a yorker. Bumrah did exactly the same, releasing a yorker to uproot the wicket from the ground. 

The host, the United Arab Emirates, started to gain some momentum after the first three overs. Hardik Pandya opened the bowling for India in their first match of the Asia Cup 2025 and conceded 10 runs. Skipper Surya Kumar Yadav then introduced Bumrah, the only full-time pacer of India's playing XI of the night to make a solid impact. Bumrah concluded his first over, offering only 6 runs. For the third over, removing Pandya from the attack, Yadav handed over the ball to Axar Patel. UAE openers looked not enough bothered facing the spin bowling all-rounder.

The Team India captain sensed the urgency to take a wicket quickly, so he decided to continue with Bumrah. Bumrah did not disappoint the captain and the team as well. The ace bowler trapped the UAE batter with back-to-back slower deliveries. He took off all the pace from a couple of deliveries to trick the batter. UAE skipper and one of the openers Muhammed Waseem got off strike soon, and the bowler unleashed a perfect yorker to Sharafu to give India their first breakthrough of the contest. Bumrah went slightly wide of the crease to angle the quick yorker onto the off stump. 

Read More: Asia Cup 2025: Shivam Dube opens up about 'competition' with Hardik Pandya after taking 3 wickets vs UAE

Irfan Pathan predicted early what was going to happen 

Irfan, who was then on air doing his commentary job, predicted early that two consecutive slow deliveries could be a sign for a scorching yorker when he found his rhythm. With a toe-breaking yorker, the speed star helped India to get rid of Alishan Sharafu. 

"This is a massive over; this could be the over where India makes a comeback. This is the reason why Bumrah has been given another over in the powerplay. Two slower deliveries now; he is completely setting up Waseem now. When he is in full rhythm, he goes for the yorker as well. And he did indeed go for it! What a brilliant yorker," Irfan Pathan said on air.

Watch and the moment here

Pathan Saab saw it coming… Bumrah made it happen! 🎙️🔥

Watch #DPWorldAsiaCup2025 from Sept 9-28, LIVE on the Sony Sports Network TV Channels & Sony LIV.#SonySportsNetwork | @IrfanPathan pic.twitter.com/tqRNFZyTOF

— Sony Sports Network (@SonySportsNetwk) September 10, 2025

Former India cricketer Ajay Jadeja believes that Jasprit Bumrah should not be risked in India’s upcoming Asia Cup 2025 group stage clash against the United Arab Emirates (UAE). The team management has been particular about the star pacer’s workload, having already rested him in two of the five tests during the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy against England.

Bumrah is returning to international white-ball cricket for the first time since the 2024 T20 World Cup Final. Over the last year, the 31-year-old has played primarily in Tests, only a handful of bilateral T20Is. However, with India building towards the 2026 T20 World Cup, the speedster has once again become an automatic pick in the shortest format.

The pacer recently dealt with a minor niggle at the end of the England tour, but after a rare extended break, he is back in the squad. Yet, Jadeja stressed that India should avoid using Bumrah in matches against weaker sides. Speaking on Sony Sports Network, he remarked, “What is the need to play Bumrah tomorrow, man? Usually, you keep him wrapped in cotton wool. Now you need him even against UAE? Either don’t protect him at all, or if you need to preserve him, then do it in these types of matches. Logic dictates that, but we never do things with logic. I will go on strike if Bumrah plays.”

Irfan Pathan Counters Jadeja’s View

Former India all-rounder Irfan Pathan had a contrasting take on the matter. He acknowledged the importance of managing Bumrah’s workload but felt that once selected for a tournament, the bowler should play every game. Pathan noted that tournaments are not the stage for partial participation.

See Also: 'God’s Plan' - Rinku Singh reveals story behind his famous phrase ahead of the 2025 Asia Cup

“You need to protect Bumrah, I understand. But what my opinion is, and I have said this during the England tour as well, is that if you have come to play a series, then you have to play it completely. You have not come into a series for recovery or management; you have come to play,” Pathan stated. Bumrah, who missed the 2022 edition due to injury, will feature in the T20 Asia Cup for only the second time in his career. India’s campaign begins on September 10 against UAE at the Dubai International Stadium.

Former India cricketer Yograj Singh has reignited his criticism of MS Dhoni following the resurfacing of the viral “hookah” controversy linked to Irfan Pathan.

The controversy stemmed from Pathan’s 2020 interview, where he suggested Dhoni favored certain players over others during team selection. Those remarks have resurfaced on social media, sparking widespread debates and memes.

Reacting to the matter, Yograj Singh once again voiced his displeasure with Dhoni’s leadership style. He claimed that favoritism within the team hurt the careers of many deserving cricketers, including Pathan. The former all-rounder’s fresh comments have further fueled discussions, keeping the focus firmly on Dhoni and the long-standing debate over fairness in Indian cricket selections.

See Also: India’s Asia Cup 2025 Dubai schedule: player arrivals, practice timings & key details

Yograj Singh Comments on the Viral “Hookah” Controversy:

Irfan Pathan was left out of the Indian team after the 2012 season, a time when MS Dhoni was leading the side across formats. Interestingly, the two had earlier shared success in India’s historic 2007 T20 World Cup triumph, where Pathan’s match-winning performance in the final against Pakistan earned him the Player of the Match award.

Addressing the ongoing Dhoni-Pathan hookah controversy in an interview with Inside Sport, Yograj Singh didn’t hold back. He commented strongly on the issue, suggesting that such incidents reflected larger concerns about team culture and selection practices during Dhoni’s tenure.

Yograj Singh said, “ It is not only about Irfan Pathan. You see Gautam Gambhir speaking about it. Virender Sehwag openly said about it as well. Harbhajan Singh spoke about how he was put out of the team like a fly. You should arrange a jury on why he did what he did. MS Dhoni doesn’t want to answer. One who doesn’t want to answer has a guilty conscience.”

Irfan Pathan missed India’s 2011 World Cup-winning squad and featured in only three ODIs between 2009 and 2011. However, he returned in 2012 as a regular, playing 12 matches that year, before being permanently dropped from the national setup.

Yograj Singh Criticizes MS Dhoni’s Treatment Towards Specific Players:

Yograj Singh criticized MS Dhoni, Kapil Dev, and Bishan Singh Bedi, raising concerns about how they treated specific players. While questioning them, he acknowledged Dhoni and Kapil’s achievements, highlighting their distinction as India’s only ODI World Cup-winning captains, with Dhoni also guiding India to the 2007 T20 World Cup and 2013 Champions Trophy triumphs.

He further said, “ I talk about Bishan Singh Bedi, Kapil Dev, MS Dhoni. I can talk about people whom I have been with. They have treated people like shit. Jo galat hai wo galat hai. Two wrongs cannot make one right. I say this openly, that our cricketers and team were destroyed by our captain.”

India has seen multiple world-class pace bowling all-rounders over the years. From legendary Kapil Dev to the modern era’s Hardik Pandya, the nature of the game might have changed, but some basic needs remain the same as before. Through his article we will discuss Pandya and former international Irfan Pathan’s performances for team India through numbers.

Check the comparisons below:

Irfan Pathan:

When 19-year-old Irfan Pathan made his international debut for Team India during a Test match against Australia, in place of injured Zaheer Khan, he was by then known for his bowling abilities. He could swing the red ball in both ways with a medium pace. Pathan’s first Test fifer came against their all-time rival Pakistan in 2004; in the same year, he claimed his first 10-wicket Test figure as well, which was against Bangladesh. Later, Irfan developed his batting skills as well and, ultimately, evolved as a pace bowling all-rounder. The southpaw took part more in ODIs than in tests. But sadly, he never reached the heights he could have. During the later part of his career, delivery speed and swings gradually decreased. In his last One Day International match, Pathan took 5 wickets against Sri Lanka. His exclusion from the team was a surprising move from the team management.

Pathan's batting stats for India:

Pathan's bowling stats for India:

Read More: KKR scout spotted TNPL's highest run scorer as golden prospect for IPL 2026: Report

Hardik Pandya:

Contradictory to Irfan Pathan, Hardik Pandya is more than a batting all-rounder, rather than a bowling all-rounder. Pandya’s skill set perfectly fitslimited overs cricket. He was a central figure in India's trophy-winning at the 2024 T20I World Cup and the 2025 Champions Trophy. Proving his all-round capabilities, he became the first Indian player to score 30+ runs and take 4+ wickets in the same T20 World Cup match. Additionally, the Gujarat-born emerged as the first Indian all-rounder to reach number 1 in the T20I rankings. Pandya, now 31 years of age, still has enough time to add more achievements to his biodata.

Pandya's batting stats for India:

Pandya's bowling stats for India:

Irfan Pathan is showing no signs of holding back. After his controversial 'hookah' comment in one of his social media posts, the former all-rounder tagged MS Dhoni directly and made another controversial remark. 

Irfan shared a post on September 3, 2025, from his official social media account to wish Mohammed Shami on his birthday. It was a normal birthday post until a net user asked Irfan, "Pathan bhai woh hookey ka kya hua??? ((Irfan) Pathan, bro, what happened to that hookah?)" In reply, tagging MS Dhoni, the former India international typed, "Mein or MS Dhoni sath Beth kar pienge (I and Dhoni will enjoy it together)." 

After the comment from Pathan, the controversy took a new turn. Though, some might wonder, what is the link between Irfan Pathan, MS Dhoni, and hookah? Here are the full background details of the controversial chapter shared by Pathan himself:

Mein or @msdhoni sath Beth kar pienge;)

— Irfan Pathan (@IrfanPathan) September 3, 2025

Read More: Mark Butcher: England do not have an absorption button in ODIs

During an interview with a new channel, Irfan discussed his sudden snub from Team India despite bowling significantly well in the previous game. The exclusion of the former pace bowling all-rounder came as a shocker to cricket fans in those days, as he picked up a five-wicket haul in his last ODI, and right after that, Pathan was out of contention. During the conversation he wanted to say that there was a huge communication gap about his exclusion. He claimed that the board or team management did not show any proper reason behind the decision. To date, it was publicly unknown why the team management decided to drop Irfan Pathan. After multiple promising performances, his international career ended abruptly in 2012. Pathan further informed that he went to MS Dhoni, then the captain of team India, and tried to find out the reason why he was not a part of the team. But Dhoni's answer was something different from the scenario. 

What did Pathan said? 

"Yes, I asked him. During the 2008 Australia series, Mahi said, 'No, Irfan, there is nothing like this; everything's going as per plan,'" Pathan said. 

After that, he made the controversial comment where Irfan talked about hookah, which is considered a subtle dig at Dhoni. Pathan said, "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."

It has now been five years since Irfan Pathan last addressed the controversy surrounding his sudden exit from the Indian cricket team in 2012. His departure came during the leadership of MS Dhoni, under whom he played his final international match.

Interestingly, the former Indian all-rounder signed off with a notable performance in his last ODI, where he managed to claim five wickets. Despite such an effort, his career with the national team came to an unexpected halt, leaving many fans puzzled about the circumstances that led to his omission.

While Irfan’s absence from the squad sparked debates among cricket followers, the actual reasons were never made public. Pathan himself has often maintained a dignified silence on the matter. Ultimately, the decision rested with the selectors, who alone knew the factors behind ending the all-rounder’s promising international journey despite his impactful contributions on the field.

See Also: 3 Big Bash League teams that must pursue Ravichandran Ashwin in 2025-26

Irfan Pathan Shares Insights of a Conversation with MS Dhoni:

In a 2020 interview, Irfan Pathan opened up about a discussion he once had with MS Dhoni concerning his place and future in the Indian team. Speaking with Sports Tak, the former all-rounder shared insights into that discussion, revealing how the skipper assessed his performances and guided him about the team’s plans.

He said, “ Yes, I asked him. During the 2008 Australia series, Mahi bhai's statement came out in the media that Irfan wasn't bowling well. So I thought I had bowled well throughout the series, so I went and asked Mahi bhai about this. Sometimes, the statements are twisted in the media, so I also wanted to clarify.”

He further said, “ So Mahi bhai said, 'no Irfan, there is nothing like this, everything's going as per plans.' When you get a reply like this, then you believe that okay, you do what you can. Also if you keep asking for explanations again and again after that, you hurt your self-respect.”

Irfan Pathan’s Hookah Comment on MS Dhoni Sparks Memes:

During the interview, Irfan Pathan made a light remark directed at MS Dhoni. He mentioned that, unlike certain players, he was never the type to visit the former captain’s room and join in for ‘hookah’ sessions. His witty comment quickly caught attention and sparked widespread reactions, with many fans turning it into trending meme material.

He said, “ I don't have a habit of setting up hookah in someone's room or talking about this. Everyone knows. Sometime,s 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.”

pic.twitter.com/AM3GhZbHVe

— Out Of Context Cricket (@GemsOfCricket) September 1, 2025

Although Irfan Pathan’s hookah comment is from years ago, it recently resurfaced on social media and quickly went viral. The remark has now become a talking point again, sparking a wave of memes and humorous reactions among cricket fans across different platforms.

Kohli used to set-up hookah for Dhoni 😭😭 pic.twitter.com/DguRVajpRV

— MAHIYANK™ (@Mahiyank_78) September 3, 2025

Players who set up hookah for MS Dhoni. pic.twitter.com/OH4Hps2lpI

— 𐒡υ८Һί੮Һ (@Vaiikartana) September 2, 2025

Dhoni after dropping players who refused to set up hookah for him.
pic.twitter.com/1XF6toGfe9

— MAHIYANK™ (@Mahiyank_78) September 2, 2025

Back in 2018, former Australian cricketer George Bailey had also mentioned that MS Dhoni enjoys smoking hookah. His revelation added to the curiosity around Dhoni’s off-field habits and often resurfaces in discussions, especially whenever such remarks make their way into public conversations or social media trends.

He said, “ He likes smoking a bit of the sheesha or the hookah. So, he quite often would set that up in his room, and it was very much open-door policy. You would go in and quite often find a lot of younger players there.”

The former Indian pace bowling all-rounder, Irfan Pathan, didn’t turn up for the national side after October 2012 when he played his last fixture in the shortest format against South Africa in Colombo. In the ODI format, the left-arm pacer picked up a five-wicket haul against Sri Lanka in Pallekele in August 2012.

While the exact reasons for the absence of Irfan from the Blue Brigade aren’t known yet, many reckon that the former captain, MS Dhoni, was blamed along with the selectors, and the team management should be blamed for the poor management of handling the all-rounder. In 2020, Irfan opened up in a candid conversation that he had with Dhoni, and the video has gone viral on social media.

See Also: Rashid Khan achieves massive T20I record during ongoing Tri-series against UAE

“Yes, I asked him. During the 2008 Australia series, Mahi bhai's statement came out in the media that Irfan wasn't bowling well. So I thought I had bowled well throughout the series, so I went and asked Mahi bhai about this. Sometimes, the statements are twisted in the media, so I also wanted to clarify.” Pathan expressed in the old interview with SportsTak.

Watch: Irfan Pathan’s old remark on captain MS Dhoni during his playing days goes viral

Pathan ended with 100 Test wickets and 1105 runs in 40 innings, while in the 50-over format, he smacked 1544 runs and bagged 173 wickets. In the shortest format, the Baroda pacer collected 28 wickets and scored 172 runs in the 14 innings of the shortest format. He took a dig at Dhoni, saying that he wouldn’t be someone who sets up a hookah in someone’s room.

pic.twitter.com/AM3GhZbHVe

— Out Of Context Cricket (@GemsOfCricket) September 1, 2025

“Mahi bhai said, 'No, Irfan, there is nothing like this, everything's going as per plans.' When you get a reply like this, then you believe that, okay, you do what you can. Also, if you keep asking for explanations again and again after that, you hurt your self-respect.” The veteran all-rounder added.

“I don't have a habit of setting up a 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.” Irfan Pathan concluded. 

Shubman Gill is reportedly getting closer to becoming India’s all-format captain in the future. He has already taken on the responsibility of leading the Test side since Rohit Sharma hung up his boots. Under him, the Blue Brigade was able to draw the five-match red-ball series in England, despite being behind coming into the penultimate day of the seven-week trip.

The former Indian all-rounder, Irfan Pathan, feels that Gill’s leadership skills will get better with time as he would learn the art of captaincy. During the England away series, there were periods when the 25-year-old looked clueless in setting the field, whenever the Ben Stokes-led side put them under pressure.

See Also: ICC reveals massive partnership ahead of Women's ODI World Cup 2025

Shubman Gill’s captaincy will get better with time; he’ll learn the art of leadership more, but what he has already done is great. He also has his batting ability in place. He’s been performing outstandingly in one-day cricket and is the vice-captain there. Now with T20 cricket, which he was playing regularly before the last year.” Pathan expressed during a recent interaction on Revsportz.

Irfan Pathan accepts idea to make Shubman Gill India’s all-format captain

Gill, who smashed four centuries during the England series and had contributed with over 700 runs in 10 innings of the red-ball games, impressed and got the chance to be the vice-captain of the national side for the upcoming Asia Cup 2025, which starts on September 09. With Gill getting the chance, India will have to make changes to the playing eleven.

“The selection committee discussed with him that as soon as you get free from Test cricket, you will get back. There are a lot of questions in the media, I understand, but Indian cricket goes according to a plan, and that’s how it has always been.” Pathan shed light during the interaction.

“Selection board, management has the responsibility, and I think that going in one direction is important, and this is what it seems like Indian cricket is doing with Shubman Gill right now.” The Baroda all-rounder predicted the Punjab-born.

The former Indian all-rounder, Irfan Pathan, has leaked his conversation with the current ODI captain of the Blue Brigade, Rohit Sharma, regarding the latter’s participation in the upcoming ODI World Cup 2027 in South Africa, Zimbabwe, and Namibia. Under his captaincy, they won the title of the Champions Trophy 2025 in Dubai, beating New Zealand.

Rohit Sharma has smashed 302 runs in eight ODI innings in the ongoing year at an average of 37.75 and a strike rate of 108.24, with the help of one fifty and one century. In 2023, the right-handed batter smashed 1255 runs in 26 innings at an average of 52.29 and a strike rate of 117.07 with two centuries and nine fifties.

See Also: Roger Binny's tenure as BCCI president ends as replacement named

“I’ve spoken to Rohit Sharma and he’s very keen about fitness. Then, Virat, I am sure, is very keen as well with the way he has been seen practicing in England. I have also seen a statement from Mohammed Shami which says that he’s very keen too.” The Baroda all-rounder, Irfan Pathan, expressed on Revsportz.

 Irfan Pathan leaks personal conversation with Rohit Sharma on ODI World Cup 2027

Overall, Rohit has smashed 11168 runs in the 50-over format in 265 innings at an average of 48.77 and a strike rate of 92.80, thanks to 32 centuries and 58 half-centuries at the best score of 264 runs against Sri Lanka at Eden Gardens in Kolkata. Pathan believes the game will make the final decision for the Mumbai batter.

“The keenness is important from the player’s point of view, so this is a great thing about them – that they are in touch and working on their fitness as well. If I’m looking at things as a broadcaster, I think the game time they get regularly will decide their presence in the World Cup 27.” Irfan Pathan shed light.

Even if Rohit finds the chance to feature in this World Cup 2027, there is no guarantee of the veteran leading the national side. Shubman Gill could end up being the frontrunner to captain the Blue Brigade during the assignment. Along with Rohit, the same inspection has been around the future of Virat Kohli in the ODI cricket. 

Former India all-rounder Irfan Pathan shared his thoughts on Shubman Gill’s inclusion in India’s Asia Cup 2025 squad. The 15-member team was announced on Tuesday, August 19, with Gill earning the vice-captaincy role, reflecting the selectors’ confidence in his abilities and leadership potential.

Gill has been in exceptional form recently. In the England Test series, he amassed 754 runs across five matches, showcasing his consistency and temperament in challenging overseas conditions. His ability to anchor the innings while scoring at a healthy pace made him one of India’s standout performers in the series.

In addition to his Test success, Gill also excelled in the IPL 2025 season. He scored 650 runs in 15 matches at a strike rate of 155.87, underlining his aggressive and impactful batting style. His combined performances across formats make him a key asset for India in the Asia Cup.

See Also: Highlights of India’s Asia Cup 2025 squad: Gill, Bumrah return; Shreyas, Yashasvi left out

Irfan Pathan's Opinion on Shubman Gill’s Strike-Rate:

The 2025 Asia Cup will take place in the UAE from September 8 to 28. The tournament features eight teams split into two groups of four. Each team will face their group opponents, aiming to advance to the knockout stages, making the competition highly competitive and exciting for fans across the region.

India’s Asia Cup squad has been announced, with Shubman Gill appointed as vice-captain. Former cricketer Irfan Pathan noted that Gill’s T20I strike rate of 139.27 from 21 matches is lower than some peers. Pathan highlighted that it will be interesting to observe how the right-handed batter adjusts and performs in the upcoming tournament, especially given his leadership responsibilities and the expectations surrounding his return.

In his YouTube channel, he said, “ In international cricket, Shubman Gill's strike-rate is a little lesser. If he can increase it, that responsibility will be on him. It will be important to see how he adapts himself to this format. Batting regularly with a good strike-rate in T20 cricket in Ahmedabad and other pitches which are slow, this would be a challenge for him and I will look forward to see how he does.”

Irfan Pathan Sees Shubman Gill’s Vice-Captaincy as Strategic Future Move:

Shubman Gill last appeared in a T20I in 2024 ahead of the T20 World Cup. He cameback as vice-captain for India’s 2025 Asia Cup squad. Recently, Gill assumed the role of India’s Test captain, while also serving as the vice-captain of the ODI team, highlighting the team management’s trust in his leadership across formats.

Irfan Pathan believes Shubman Gill’s leadership role in all formats reflects India’s long-term strategy. With T20I captain Suryakumar Yadav already 34, Pathan believes this move signals that Gill could eventually take over leadership responsibilities in Tests, ODIs, and T20Is, positioning him as a future cornerstone for India’s teams across all formats.

He further said, “ I had told that this selection would be divided into two things, whether you do the right thing or plan for the future. Do you go with both or go on one side? The selectors have made it clear that they want to do the right thing but there is also future planning. Shubman Gill comes in and becomes the vice-captain, which is a clear indication of what the future planning is. Suryakumar Yadav is 34 and you have to look forward as well.”

Shubman Gill brings valuable captaincy experience, having led the Gujarat Titans for two IPL seasons. The Asia Cup offers him a chance to further develop his leadership skills in T20Is under the mentorship of Suryakumar Yadav, gaining experience and confidence in managing the team at the international level while adapting to the challenges of the shorter format.