The video of India wicketkeeper-batter Rishabh Pant partying with former captain MS Dhoni has taken the internet by storm. However, the clip has also sparked a discussion about Dhoni’s alleged fondness for hookah. In the viral video, Pant and Dhoni can be seen partying and dancing with a group of friends in a room. Music, food, and drinks were an integral part of the gathering, as Pant enjoyed some downtime following India’s Test series victory over Sri Lanka. Amid all the celebrations, fans were particularly focused on Dhoni, who also appeared to be in a cheerful mood.
Talking about Pant, the wicketkeeper-batter featured for India last month during the Test series in Sri Lanka, which India won 1-0 after securing victory in the opening Test in Galle. Pant has scored 2,534 runs at an impressive average of over 41, narrowly surpassing Dhoni’s tally of 2,496 runs. Farokh Engineer (1,209), Syed Kirmani (1,109) and Kiran More (901) complete the top five.
Notably, former Australia captain George Bailey had once recalled Dhoni’s open-door policy for hookah and relaxed approach during his playing days. The second Test ended in a draw after Sonal Dinusha batted for five sessions following Sri Lanka’s follow-on, which India had enforced.
“He likes smoking a bit of the sheesha or the hookah,” Bailey had said. “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.”
