Chennai: Chennai Super Kings’ captain MS Dhoni and Kolkata Knight Riders’ captain Ajinkya Rahane during the toss before an Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 T20 cricket match between Chennai Super Kings and Kolkata Knight Riders, at the MA Chidambaram Stadium, in Chennai. (PTI Photo/R Senthilkumar) *** Local Caption ***

Mahendra Singh Dhoni‘s leadership has often been defined by more than his tactical decisions on the field. Over the years, the former India captain built a reputation for creating a comfortable dressing-room atmosphere, with several teammates crediting him for helping youngsters settle into the international setup.One of the traditions that became synonymous with Dhoni during tours was his ever-open hotel room. Players, particularly the younger members of the squad, frequently gathered there to relax, chat and play mobile or video games away from the intensity of international cricket.Former India batter Ajinkya Rahane, who played alongside Dhoni for India as well as IPL franchises Chennai Super Kings and Rising Pune Supergiant, shared an insight into that culture during an appearance on the Overlap Cricket YouTube channel.According to Rahane, Dhoni’s room often turned into a meeting point for the squad, with teammates dropping in throughout the day. However, there was one unwritten rule that everyone followed.“He’s (MS Dhoni) very calm and cool and just a very normal human being like everyone. His room was almost always open for anyone to do anything. So many times, 10 to 15 of them or even the whole team was in his room. But when his door was shut, no one was allowed,” said Rahane on Overlap Cricket YouTube.Dhoni’s future as a player continues to be unclear after he missed the entire IPL 2026 season because of a leg injury. The 44-year-old did not play a single match for Chennai Super Kings, and there has been no official confirmation on whether he will return for another season.Rahane, meanwhile, recently announced his retirement from all forms of cricket, bringing the curtain down on both his international and domestic career.The 38-year-old decided to step away from the game three years after his final appearance for India, saying he felt the time was right to move on.Rahane represented India in 85 Tests, 90 ODIs and 20 T20Is between 2011 and 2023, earning a reputation as one of the team’s most reliable batters and playing a significant role in several memorable victories across formats.