PremiumVideo of MS Dhoni smoking hookah goes viral; look at other cricketers who smoke or used to
MS Dhoni is not the sole cricketer who has landed in social media outrage with their association with smoking, here are some cricketers who have been seen smoking.
Last Updated: 05.04 PM, Jan 07, 2024
Soon after fans were trending tags seeing MS Dhoni and MC Stan in an ad together, a new video of the former Indian captain has again broken the internet, but not for the right reason. A video has been circulating since December 6 on social media of the Chennai Super Kings (CSK) skipper Dhoni smoking hookah at what appears to be a social gathering.
The footage shows MSD taking a drag and exhaling smoke. However, it is not known if the video is from a recent gathering or an old video.
However, the video soon blew up and received mixed reactions on X (formerly known as Twitter) with many fans surprised to see the 'Thala' of CSK smoking.
ALSO READ | CSK captain MS Dhoni and Bigg Boss 16 winner MC Stan team up, fans call it 'Ad of the Year'
It's worth noting that Dhoni is not the sole cricketer who has landed in social media outrage with their association with smoking. Here are some cricketers who have been seen smoking, along with some who have chosen to quit.
Chris Gayle
The West Indies cricketer has retired from international cricket but continues to participate in various leagues across the globe. Gayle has been frequently seen smoking cigarettes and enjoying his life post retirement, making him one of the most amiable cricketers known for this habit.
Hardik Pandya
The Indian all-rounder, recently appointed as the captain of the Mumbai Indians (MI) franchise for IPL 2024, isn't frequently seen smoking. However, there have been instances where the cricketer has been seen using e-cigarettes for vaping at various events.
Shane Warne
Warne had fully embraced the smoking culture and was seen with a cigarette in hand. Despite his flamboyant lifestyle, Warne's skills as a cricketer remained unaffected. He was known for living his life to the fullest and giving his best on the cricket field.
Ian Botham
The legendary all-rounder was open about his smoking habit. He was known to indulge in smoking before and occasionally even during the game, which had established a distinctive persona both on and off the cricket field.
ALSO READ | IND vs SA: India replace R Ashwin with Ravindra Jadeja, netizens say 'much needed change'
Ravindra Jadeja
The all-rounder had faced trolling after posting an Instagram photo of himself relaxing and smoking hookah. Criticism centred around the notion that he represents the country, especially after he had captioned the pic writing, "Bachpan kaali raaton mein or jawani kaale kaamo mein". Many did not resonate well with his words and actions which further intensified the backlash and he deleted the post.
Here's a list of top Indian cricketers who used to smoke but gave up the habit for the love of cricket:
Sachin Tendulkar: The cricketing legend was known to smoke earlier in his career but decided to quit to focus on his game and maintain a healthy lifestyle.
Virender Sehwag: Sehwag, known for his aggressive batting, also used to smoke in his early days but gave up the habit to enhance his fitness and cricketing performance.
Yuvraj Singh: The former all-rounder struggled with smoking during his initial years but eventually quit, prioritizing his cricket career and overall well-being.
Zaheer Khan: The former fast bowler was another cricketer who used to smoke but chose to quit to improve his fitness levels and extend his playing career.
Gautam Gambhir: The former opener, who played crucial roles in many Indian victories, quit smoking to maintain peak physical condition and contribute effectively to the team.
Harbhajan Singh: The veteran spinner gave up smoking to focus on his cricket and ensure a longer and more successful career in the sport.
Rahul Dravid: Known for his discipline, "The Wall" used to smoke early in his career but made the decision to quit to uphold a professional and healthy image in the cricketing world.
Virat Kohli: The former Indian captain has openly discussed about giving up his smoking habit to maintain peak fitness and set an example for aspiring cricketers.
(Inputs from ChatGPT)