# Rahane recalls Dhoni’s open-room rule for India teammates

2026-08-06T13:46:08+00:00 | Sports | Indian Opinion Desk

Corroboration: 3 independent outlets

Ajinkya Rahane has recalled MS Dhoni’s relaxed dressing-room culture, saying the former India captain usually kept his hotel room open to teammates. Speaking on the Overlap Cricket YouTube channel, Rahane said 10 to 15 players, and sometimes the entire team, would gather there to chat and play games. There was one clear boundary, however. “When his door was shut, no one was allowed,” Rahane said. He described Dhoni as calm, simple and approachable. The account is a personal memory of team life and does not offer a wider judgement on Dhoni’s career or character.

## Coverage

- sports.ndtv.com <https://sports.ndtv.com/cricket/when-his-door-was-shut-no-one-was-allowed-ajinkya-rahane-on-ms-dhonis-room-11870884>
- timesofindia.indiatimes.com <https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/sports/cricket/news/no-one-was-allowed-ajinkya-rahane-reveals-ms-dhonis-one-strict-rule/articleshow/132998429.cms>
- sports.ndtv.com <https://sports.ndtv.com/cricket/when-his-door-was-shut-no-one-was-allowed-ajinkya-rahane-on-ms-dhonis-room-11870884#publisher=newsstand>

Tags: Ajinkya Rahane, Indian cricket, MS Dhoni, team culture
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