In a surprising turn of events, former Indian cricketer Irfan Pathan has been removed from the commentary panel for the 2025 Indian Premier League (IPL) season following complaints from several cricketers. Reports emerged on Monday, revealing that the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) made the decision after multiple players raised concerns over what they perceived as Pathan’s biased commentary.
Sources close to the matter suggest that the complaints were centered around Pathan’s alleged tendency to let personal opinions influence his analysis, particularly when it came to high-profile players. Several cricketers reportedly felt that his commentary, especially during key matches, was laced with personal bias that affected the credibility of his analysis.
According to an insider, “This has been an ongoing issue for the last couple of years, with his biases becoming more noticeable during live commentary. It started affecting the quality of discussions, which led to growing frustration among players.”
Among the most contentious moments that sparked backlash were Pathan’s remarks during the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, particularly his comments on Virat Kohli and his criticism of Hardik Pandya’s return to domestic cricket. Tensions reportedly escalated when one unnamed cricketer allegedly blocked Pathan’s contact number, indicating the rift between the former player-turned-commentator and the team.
Complaints about Pathan’s condescending tone during interviews and a perceived hidden agenda in his analysis further fueled the discontent. Some felt that his personal views were overshadowing the professional nature expected from a commentator.
The news of Pathan’s exclusion quickly became a focal point during the IPL 2025 season opener on March 22, when Kolkata Knight Riders faced Royal Challengers Bangalore at Eden Gardens. The decision to remove Pathan from the commentary panel took some attention away from the match itself and became a key talking point, drawing comparisons to previous controversies in Indian cricket broadcasting.
In 2020, commentator Sanjay Manjrekar was also dropped from the IPL panel after facing on-air disputes, while the sudden removal of Harsha Bhogle from the commentary team in 2016 had similarly generated intense speculation about internal tensions.
Despite the controversy surrounding his departure, Irfan Pathan appears to remain unfazed. On the same day as the IPL 2025 season opener, he launched his own YouTube channel, Seedhi Baat With Irfan Pathan, where he aims to continue providing independent cricket analysis without the constraints of official commentary panels.
Meanwhile, the IPL 2025 season kicked off with an exciting contest between Royal Challengers Bangalore and Kolkata Knight Riders. RCB triumphed over KKR by seven wickets at Eden Gardens. While the on-field drama thrilled fans, the ongoing off-field dynamics surrounding the commentary panel continue to dominate headlines.
