Former India cricketer Manoj Tiwary has added weight to earlier allegations about the culture within the Indian cricket team during MS Dhoni’s captaincy, revealing that hookah was smoked inside team quarters and that only players close to Dhoni were present during these sessions.
Tiwary’s comments come in the wake of similar claims made by Irfan Pathan and have been echoed by other ex-players, including Yograj Singh, who have spoken out about persistent favouritism under Dhoni’s leadership.
Speaking candidly to InsideSport, Tiwary said, “We saw it firsthand. There were sessions where hookah was smoked, and only players close to the captain were around. Everyone knew that staying in the captain’s good books meant better chances of securing a spot in the playing XI.”
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Despite a strong domestic record, Tiwary’s international career was brief – playing only 12 ODIs and 3 T20Is. He scored a memorable century in just his sixth ODI but was dropped shortly after.
Tiwary explained that participation in these sessions was voluntary but strategic. “It wasn’t mandatory for everyone to be there. Only the players who knew the room was open for hookah would go. They were smart enough to recognize who was close to the captain and made their move accordingly.”
He added, “These discussions weren’t secret but weren’t broadcast either. The next day, word would spread, and others would learn what had happened. It was an open secret, but not everyone received an invitation.”
Though Dhoni retired from international cricket five years ago, he remains an influential and respected figure in Indian cricket.
