MS Dhoni, celebrated as one of India’s top cricketers and the iconic face of Chennai Super Kings (CSK), has recently been at the heart of a rather quirky off-field tale. Former CSK teammate Sam Billings has disclosed that Dhoni had a dedicated “shisha man” by his side during the IPL seasons. Billings, the England wicketkeeper-batter who played alongside Dhoni in 2018 and 2019, shared this amusing tidbit while reminiscing about life in the CSK camp. He mentioned that Dhoni’s hotel room often turned into a hangout spot for teammates, as the former India captain found it tough to move around freely in public due to his massive fan following. Renowned for his sharp wicketkeeping skills and calm demeanor on the field, Dhoni led CSK to an IPL title in 2018 and continues to be one of the tournament's most celebrated figures.

Billings revealed speaking on the Stick to Cricket podcast, "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."

Billings noted that Dhoni frequently invited players into his room to catch football matches and relax after games. He painted a picture of the CSK legend as laid-back, approachable, and composed, despite his superstar status. Billings also reminisced about their mutual support for Manchester United, which often helped bond teammates during their travels throughout the tournament.

Sam Billings reveals who managed MS Dhoni’s hookah setup during IPL

While chatting on the Stick to Cricket podcast, Billings shared an interesting tidbit about Dhoni’s crew. He mentioned a guy named Khaleel, who was in charge of setting up the hookah as he said, “And so we’d watch every Man United game, because he can’t leave the hotel, he can’t go downstairs to the hotel bar, and he’d get, I’ve seen load of the lads to his room. He has a little sheesha man. He looks after the sheesha. His sole job in his entourage is to look after the sheesha. Khaleel, his sheesha man.”

However, Billings offered the most in-depth look we’ve had so far. He noted that Dhoni kept his room open for teammates, creating a laid-back atmosphere where players could hang out and chat. This setup also helped navigate the challenges of Dhoni’s celebrity status, as venturing into public hotel areas often meant dealing with throngs of fans.

Billings had a lot to say about Dhoni’s character and leadership style. He commended the former India captain for his ability to keep his cool when the stakes are high and for fostering strong bonds within the team. The two of them were teammates in the CSK dressing room during the 2018 and 2019 IPL seasons, a time when Chennai clinched one title and made it to another final.