Sam Billings, once part of Chennai Super Kings during the IPL seasons of 2018 and 2019, shared stories about MS Dhoni’s off-field habits. Though known for calmness, Dhoni had a habit some might find surprising – smoking shisha regularly. From inside the team space, Billings noticed it wasn’t rare for Dhoni to have someone assigned just to manage his shisha. That little routine stood out, especially since he kept things relaxed beyond the field too. His door stayed open most nights, an invitation without words. Cool didn’t come across as pose – instead, it showed up in small choices like these.
“He (Dhoni) leaves his hotel room open, and he has this little “shisha man” in his entourage who looks after the shisha. His sole job is to look after the shisha. Khaleel,” revealed Billings, speaking on the Stick to Cricket podcast.
Folks have whispered about Dhoni and shisha before. Not just now – others in the past pointed at it too. Irfan Pathan once let it slip. So did Manoj Tiwary, back when he played for India.
Beyond the game, Billings touched on Dhoni’s fame, noting how it often kept him inside the hotel. Rarely did he step out, such was the pull of his celebrity.
Football games became their shared ritual, yet few knew Dhoni backed Manchester United until he mentioned it casually. Watching matches side by side, they found rhythm in routine rather than drama.
“What a lovely guy, considering how much stardom he has. He’s a superstar. Obviously, a Manchester United fan, like myself. We’ve watched quite a few games together because he can’t leave the hotel or go downstairs to the bar,” Billings said.
“I think just in terms of his captaincy, his aura, it’s fantastic. He’s incredibly calm and genuinely cool. There aren’t many cool people. You don’t meet many cool people these days. But he is,” the Englishman added.
Back in 2018, Billings stepped onto the field alongside Dhoni at CSK, a pairing that lasted through the next season. That year, the trophy lifted after Dhoni led the team to victory. The season after saw them push all the way to the last match again. Though they didn’t win, the effort stayed strong.
Few thought he’d still play at 44, yet there Dhoni stands – set for a 17th IPL ride with CSK by 2026. When Gaikwad went down mid-2025, the older hand stepped up, taking charge when it counted.
