Former India all-rounder Irfan Pathan has found himself dragged into a storm over a video that is not even new.
A clip from five years ago resurfaced on social media this week, with many fans claiming that it was a hidden jibe at MS Dhoni.
Pathan was quick to react, saying that the remarks were taken out of context and twisted to create controversy.
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What was in the viral video and why was Dhoni’s name dragged in?
The clip doing rounds is from 2020, when Pathan was speaking during the COVID-19 lockdown. In that chat, he recalled his exclusion from the Indian team during the 2008 CB Series in Australia.
Pathan had revealed that he once asked Dhoni about media reports that said he wasn’t bowling well. According to him, Dhoni reassured him by saying everything was fine and going as per plan.
Pathan then added that he never made it a habit to keep asking for explanations again and again, because that would hurt his self-respect.
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He further remarked that he was not someone who set up “hookahs” in other people’s rooms to stay in favour. This statement, though not naming anyone directly, made many fans believe it was aimed at Dhoni.
The video resurfaced in 2025 and instantly went viral, sparking speculation and online fan wars.
How did Irfan Pathan respond to the controversy?
After the old video started trending again, Pathan finally broke his silence. He took to X and wrote, “Half decade old video surfacing NOW with a twisted context to the Statement. Fan war? PR lobby?”
Half decade old video surfacing NOW with a twisted context to the Statement. Fan war? PR lobby?
— Irfan Pathan (@IrfanPathan) September 3, 2025
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Pathan said he was surprised that an old conversation was being brought back now and accused some groups of deliberately twisting his words.