Former Indian pacer Irfan Pathan has been in the news ever since his controversial "Hookah" remark about legendary former Indian captain MS Dhoni went viral from an old video.
In an interview, Pathan had claimed that Dhoni allegedly smoked 'Hookah' during his playing days and favoured those players who joined him for sessions outside the pitch.
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Even though the clip was from five years back, the statement went viral in recent days and it has created quite a stir on social media.
A section of Indian cricket fans and experts have come to the defence of the iconic wicket-keeper batter, while many have questioned the 44-year-old's integrity and off-field discipline.
READ: 'MS Dhoni hurled abuses during IPL’ – Former CSK bowler reveals
Ex-India opener rejects Pathan’s 'hookah' claim against Dhoni
Former India opener and pundit Aakash Chopra has come to Dhoni's defence, while rejecting Pathan's "Hookah" claim against the CSK icon.
MORE: Yograj weighs in on Dhoni-Pathan "Hookah" controversy
Reacting to Pathan's allegations against Dhoni, Chopra said on his YouTube channel: "You want to pick your best team. But if you have seen someone more in front of you and playing under pressure, you move towards them, and that is normal. You will see that players from where the coach or captain are would be preferred more. That is not bias, not favouritism. It is just the fact that they have spent more time with them.
"Beyond that, what happens in one room, how many people sit, how many don't, I don't think a successful captain worth his salt is going to get influenced by that factor. At the end, he has to pick a team that can win and players who can take him to that destination. So there is a lot riding on the captain's shoulder,s and the stakes are high. I don't think that if someone does not spend more time with the captain, they would be adversely treated or dropped."