Sam Billings Shares Fun MS Dhoni Stories From CSK Days, Reveals His ‘Shisha Man’
Sam Billings reveals MS Dhoni had a “shisha man” at CSK and shares stories about the former captain’s calm aura and leadership.
Former England wicketkeeper Sam Billings has shared some fun behind the scenes stories about MS Dhoni from their time together at Chennai Super Kings.
Billings spoke about Dhoni’s habits, leadership style, and life inside the CSK camp during a recent episode of the Stick to Cricket podcast.
He said Dhoni often created a relaxed atmosphere around the team, even during intense IPL seasons.
Billings revealed that Dhoni regularly enjoyed shisha and even had a person dedicated to managing it.
“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 said.
According to Billings, Dhoni would often keep his hotel room door open, allowing teammates to drop in and chat freely.
This made the environment inside the CSK camp very relaxed and friendly despite the pressure of the IPL.
Former India players Irfan Pathan and Manoj Tiwary had earlier hinted at Dhoni’s shisha habit as well, adding more curiosity around the story.
Billings also spoke about spending time watching football with Dhoni during the IPL.
Dhoni is a big Manchester United fan, just like Billings, and the two often watched matches together inside the hotel.
“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.
Billings explained that Dhoni’s massive popularity meant he could rarely step out in public during the IPL.
Because of this, many of his casual hangouts with teammates happened inside the team hotel.
Dhoni’s Calm Aura as Captain
Billings also praised Dhoni’s leadership style and the calm presence he brought to the dressing room.
“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,” Billings said.
Billings and Dhoni played together for CSK during the 2018 and 2019 IPL seasons.
CSK won the IPL title in 2018 and reached the final again in 2019, finishing runners up.
Even at 44, Dhoni continues to be a central figure for CSK.
He is expected to play his 17th IPL season in 2026 and even stepped in to captain the team briefly in late 2025 after Ruturaj Gaikwad suffered an injury.
Despite his legendary status, stories like Billings’ show the simple and relaxed side of Dhoni inside the dressing room.
