MS Dhoni (Image credit: BCCI/IPL) NEW DELHI: MS Dhoni’s influence on Chennai Super Kings has long been celebrated for his calmness, loyalty and unparalleled leadership – but former CSK star Mike Hussey has now lifted the curtain on a lesser-known side of the franchise: a culture of off-field bonding built on Dhoni’s open hospitality.Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel. SIGN UP NOW!In a fascinating revelation on The Overlap Cricket podcast, Hussey said that Dhoni’s room has become CSK’s unofficial team lounge during every IPL season. Players came and went every hour, discussing cricket, joking, sharing food – and, for some, relaxing with a hookah.
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“Dhoni is just the most amazing guy. His room is available 24 hours a day. Anyone can go there and just sit. He has his lounge, the players just sit, they start talking cricket, some of them like hookah, you know, flavored tobacco stuff. That’s their way of socializing. Thanks to Dhoni,” he opens his room, they bring Hussey to him, they offer the players a lot of food. a glimpse into the camaraderie that has defined CSK’s IPL dynasty.This anecdote echoes former CSK batsman George Bailey’s earlier revelation that Dhoni often held relaxed hookah sessions to help younger players settle into the team. Bailey said Dhoni’s informal approach broke down the hierarchy and helped create a sense of belonging – a CSK value over the years.Hussey also shared a surprising detail about Dhoni’s preparation habits: despite being one of the best wicketkeepers in the game, he hardly ever practiced the skill in training.“I think the only time I saw him catch a ball was when we were going to put on a new pair of gloves. I’ve never seen him practice possession. But he bats for a long, long time – he hits thousands and thousands of balls,” Hussey revealed.With Dhoni set to return for IPL 2026 after being retained by the five-time champions, stories like these underscore why CSK players past and present continue to call the franchise “family” – one built on trust, comfort and a legend whose doors have literally always been open.
