The official commentary panel for IPL 2025 was announced on Friday, and the absence of former India all-rounder Irfan Pathan, who has been a regular fixture in the past, has raised eyebrows. Reports now suggest that Pathan’s exclusion follows complaints from several Indian cricketers who believe his critical remarks about their performances are personally motivated.
According to sources, one particular player went to the extent of blocking Pathan’s number after being irked by his comments during the Australia series. The controversy surrounding his exclusion has been linked to ongoing dissatisfaction among players who felt he carried personal biases against certain individuals.
“Otherwise, his (Pathan’s) name would have been there. It’s been happening for the last two years as he was carrying his personal agendas against certain players and that didn’t go down well with the system,” a source was quoted as saying by the website.
Pathan is not the first prominent commentator to face consequences following complaints from players. In the past, Sanjay Manjrekar and Harsha Bhogle have also been removed from commentary duties due to concerns raised by Indian cricketers regarding their on-air opinions.
Who do you think has complained against Irfan Pathan?
