Former Indian all-rounder Irfan Pathan has been removed from the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 commentary panel following complaints from several cricketers, as reported by Indian media on Monday.
According to sources, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) decided to drop Pathan due to concerns over his alleged bias in commentary. Players reportedly raised objections, claiming his analysis was influenced by personal opinions.
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A source close to the matter revealed, “This has been going on for the past two years, with his biases becoming increasingly noticeable.”
Pathan’s remarks had apparently upset several high-profile players, particularly his comments on Virat Kohli during the Border-Gavaskar Trophy and his criticism of Hardik Pandya’s return to domestic cricket. The situation escalated to the point where one unnamed player allegedly blocked Pathan’s contact.
Additional complaints highlighted his condescending tone in interviews and suggestions of a personal agenda in his analysis.
His exclusion became a major talking point during the IPL 2025 season opener on March 22, when Kolkata Knight Riders played against Royal Challengers Bangalore at Eden Gardens. The decision to remove Pathan overshadowed the match, drawing comparisons to past controversies in Indian cricket broadcasting, such as Sanjay Manjrekar’s removal in 2020 and Harsha Bhogle’s sudden exit in 2016.
Despite the setback, Pathan seems undeterred by the controversy. On March 22, he launched his own YouTube channel, Seedhi Baat With Irfan Pathan, where he intends to continue sharing his cricket analysis independently.
Meanwhile, the IPL 2025 season began with an exciting contest, as Royal Challengers Bangalore defeated Kolkata Knight Riders by seven wickets at Eden Gardens. While the on-field action thrilled fans, discussions around the commentary panel shake-up continue to dominate headlines.
