In a remarkable twist of fate during t20 world cup 2026, PakistanLatest ‘Mystery Spinner’ Osman Tariq High-voltage conflict in particular has emerged as a major strategic threat before IndiaBut his journey to the national team has a surprising connection with an Indian legend. While the 28-year-old off-spinner is currently confusing the batsmen with his unorthodox ‘stop-start’ action, he credits the influence of his professional comeback. ms dhoni.
Revealed: Pakistan’s secret weapon against India – Usman Tariq’s surprising connection with MS Dhoni
Usman’s relationship with Dhoni is not one of personal guidance, but of deep inspiration through cinema. In 2016, a dejected Tariq essentially quit cricket after repeated humiliations in Pakistan’s domestic circuit. He moved to Dubai, where he worked hard as a salesman and logistics officer in a procurement firm to support his family.
The turning point came when he saw the biopic “MS Dhoni: The Untold Story.” Tariq reportedly saw himself in the scenes where Dhoni struggled to balance a monotonous 9 to 5 job as a TTE in Kharagpur with a burning desire to play for his country.
“When I was not selected, I left the game and started working as a salesman in a purchasing company in Dubai. One day, I watched MS Dhoni: The Untold Story, and it inspired me a lot. I quit the job and went back to Pakistan to play cricket again,” Tariq revealed in a recent interview with Telecom Asia Sport in 2025. This cinematic moment of truth took him back to the net, where he eventually developed the unique, spectacular action that has now made him a household name.
Pakistan’s Usman Tariq says he gave himself another chance at cricket after being inspired by the train scene in MS Dhoni: The Untold Story. pic.twitter.com/ynyNXcVtIe
-Ragav X (@ragav_x) 6 February 2026
T20 World Cup 2026: ‘Chucking’ controversy and Ravichandran Ashwin’s support
In the ongoing T20 World Cup, Tariq has lived up to his ‘X-factor’ label, recently taking 3 for 27 to help defeat Pakistan. usa On 10 February. However, his success has been overshadowed by the intense scrutiny of his bowling action, which includes a dramatic pause of almost two seconds at the crease before a side-arm release.
This debate reached its peak after Australia cameron green Questioned the legality of the action during a recent series. While social media trolls have termed the action ‘illegal’, Tariq has found an unexpected ally in the Indian legend Ravichandran Ashwin.
- Ashwin’s defence: Ashwin argued on
Okay, let me make this as clear as possible. Firstly, the validity of his action can only be tested at the ICC Bowling Action Testing Centre.
Secondly, there is a 15° rule under which a bowler has to keep his elbow and straighten it and judge whether the bowler is bowling inside or not… pic.twitter.com/RbTkY6xJ3h
– Ashwin 🇮🇳 (@ashwinravi99) 11 February 2026
- medical condition: Tariq has explained that he was born with a unique right elbow with ‘two corners’, which creates a visual illusion of a bend which is actually a biological deformity similar to the mythical one. Muttiah Muralitharan.
Usman Tariq is educating the illiterate. pic.twitter.com/NxrUDBmt66
– Ihtishamm ul Haq (@iihtishamm) 11 February 2026
Having already passed the biomechanical tests in Lahore, Tariq is set to become Pakistan’s primary weapon in the upcoming blockbuster encounter against India in Colombo on February 15.
Also read: Is Usman Tariq’s bowling action legal? breaking pause dispute
