Former CSK star Mike Hussey revealed MS Dhoni's room served as an unofficial team lounge, fostering off-field bonding
through open hospitality and shisha sessions. This culture, also highlighted by George Bailey, created a strong sense of
belonging within the franchise. Hussey also noted Dhoni's unusual lack of wicketkeeping practice, contrasting with his
extensive batting sessions.
MS Dhoni (Image credit: BCCI/IPL)
NEW DELHI: MS Dhoni's impact at Chennai Super Kings has long been hailed for its calmness, loyalty and unmatched
leadership — but former CSK star Mike Hussey has now lifted the curtain on a lesser-known side of the franchise: the
off-field bonding culture built around Dhoni's open-door hospitality.Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel.
SUBSCRIBE NOW! In a fascinating revelation on The Overlap Cricket podcast, Hussey said Dhoni's room effectively became
CSK's unofficial team lounge during every IPL season. Players drifted in and out at all hours, discussing cricket,
bantering, sharing meals — and for some, unwinding with shisha.
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“Dhoni is just the most amazing guy. His room is available open 24 hours a day. Anyone can go up there and just sit. He
has got his lounge room, players just sit around, they start talking cricket, some of them like the shisha, you know,
the flavoured tobacco stuff. That is their way of socialising. Credit to Dhoni, he opens his room up — lots of players
go up, they bring food up, it is fantastic,” Hussey said, offering a glimpse into the camaraderie that defined CSK's IPL
dynasty. The anecdote echoes former CSK batter George Bailey's earlier revelation that Dhoni often hosted relaxed hookah
sessions to help younger players settle into the team. Bailey had said Dhoni's informal approach broke down hierarchy
and helped create a sense of belonging — a trademark CSK value over the years. Hussey also shared a surprising detail
about Dhoni's preparation habits: despite being one of the game's greatest wicketkeepers, he almost never practised the
skill in training. “I think the only time I've seen him catch a ball was when we wanted to knock in a new pair of
gloves. I've never seen him practise his keeping ever. But he bats 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 underline why CSK players past and present continue to call the franchise a “family” — one built on
trust, comfort and a legend whose door was literally always open.