MUMBAI (Kashmir English): The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has reportedly kicked out former Indian pacer Irfan Pathan from the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 commentary panel following a series of complaints from players regarding his commentary style, Indian media said citing the sources.
The BCCI reportedly made the decision after growing concern among the cricketers about Pathan’s biased analysis and allowing personal opinions to influence his commentary.
“It’s been happening for the last two years, where his personal biases were becoming evident,” said a source close to the matter.
Players complained that Pathan was overly critical of certain players, with tensions also flaring over his remarks on Virat Kohli during the Border-Gavaskar Trophy and criticism of Hardik Pandya’s return to domestic cricket.
In a deepening rift, one unnamed Indian player even blocked Pathan’s number. Additional complaints mentioned the alleged condescending tone during interviews and a perceived personal agenda in his views.
Controversy overshadowed IPL opener
Former Indian all-rounder Irfan Pathan’s exclusion overshadowed the IPL opening match held between Kolkata Knight Riders and Royal Challengers Bangalore at Eden Gardens on March 22.
The BCCI’s move reflects previous controversies in Indian cricket broadcasting. In 2020, Sanjay Manjrekar was similarly excluded from the commentary team after on-air disputes with players and colleagues.
The IPL 2025 began on March 22 with a match between Royal Challengers Bangalore and Kolkata Knight Riders at Eden Gardens.
However, the spotlight soon shifted from the pitch to the commentary box, with the former Indian all-rounder missing from the BCCI’s official commentary panel.
Irfan Pathan, a regular voice in previous IPL seasons, was notably absent this edition. Reports suggest his removal stemmed from discontent among several players regarding his commentary style.
Allegations of bias and overly critical analysis were at the heart of the issue, with some cricketers feeling that Pathan’s personal opinions were creeping into his professional commentary.
