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Irfan Pathan Accused Of 'Personal Bias', Left Out Of IPL 2025 Commentary Panel: Report


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Posted

Former India all-rounder Irfan Pathan will not be a part of the commentary team for this year's Indian Premier League (IPL) season. According to a report, Irfan has not been included in the commentary panel for IPL 2025. Since his retirement from the sport, Irfan has been a regular member of the commentary panel in the IPL, becoming one of the most recognisable voices of the game. However, Pathan was nowhere to be seen during the opening match of IPL 2025 between Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) and Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) on Saturday.

 

 

According to a report in the Times of India (TOI), Irfan has been snubbed from the panel as the "broadcasters were not happy with him bringing in personal grudges on-air and even on his social media handle."

"Pathan had a fallout with a couple of players a few years ago. Since then, he has not shied away from referring to them aggressively. The matter was raised that other junior players got caught in the crossfire. He has been accused of taking potshots at them on social media platform even if he didn't name them," the report quoted a BCCI source as saying.

For the unversed, the 40-year-old launched his own YouTube channel "Seedhi Baat With Irfan Pathan" on March 22. He will be providing in-depth analysis of the game on the same.

However, Irfan is not the first high-profile player to be stripped off the commentary duties. In 2020, former India batter Sanjay Manjrekar was removed from the commentary panel by BCCI for India's ODI series against South Africa for his controversial 'bits and pieces' remark on Ravindra Jadeja during the 2019 ODI World Cup.

 

"I have always considered commentary as a great privilege, but never an entitlement. It is up to my employers whether they choose to have me or not & I will always respect that. Maybe BCCI has not been happy with my performance of late. I accept that as a professional," Manjrerkar posted on social media after being snubbed.

In 2016, veteran commentator Harsha Bhogle was not included in the commentary panel for the IPL.

"I still don't know why I am not doing the IPL. I can accept the fact that people don't like me. But I genuinely hope it isn't because cricketers have complained about what I have to say," Bhogle had posted on social media.

 

Irfan Pathan Accused Of 'Personal Bias', Left Out Of IPL 2025 Commentary Panel: Report | Cricket News

Posted

These are all flimsy excuses to ban him.

 

Him questioning Rohits place in the team during the BGT might be the real reason.

 

This is what he said.

 

A player who has made about 20,000 runs--yet the way Rohit is struggling now, it seems his form is not supporting him at all,"

 

"What's happening now is that he is the captain, so he is playing. If he were not the captain, he might not be playing right now. You would have had a set team. K.L. Rahul would have been playing at the top. Jaiswal would have been there. Shubman Gill would have been there," the former cricketer added.

Pathan's analysis suggests that, based on merit alone, Sharma might not have a place in the playing XI. "If we talk about reality, considering how he is struggling with the bat, there might not have been a place for him in the playing XI. But because he is the captain, and you want to win the next match to draw the series, he stays in the team," Pathan added.

Posted

What da f is wrong with these senior players acting so entitled. The player who even raised this concern should be thrown out and the public made aware for being such a delusional cry baby. Instead of accepting facts and improving their game, they r channeling their energy in this non sense. 

I don’t think he even said anything harsh.  Pathetic from the player and even worse by his employer.

Posted
1 hour ago, Ravi_Shastri said:

Commentators should never be biased. It is a professional job

 

Questioning a player's form, and calling them out for their lack of performance is not "bias". Bias was what we saw Bhogle do biggying up useless KS Bharath's 20 while remaining mum and downplaying Jurel's series winning performances against England.

 

Just because you're not licking stars' balls doesn't mean you're biased. You expect commentators to say it how they see it, and Pathan was one of the few who did a decent job. Questioning Rohit and Kohli's spot in Test team is not bias but a valid comment based on their performances, or lack thereof.

Posted
2 hours ago, Gollum said:

Ritika Sajdeh doing her thing. 

nah Irfan was sucking up to Rohit in that interview

Posted

Chutyapa like Rohitman Sharma, King Kohli, Dhoni Review system and other loads crap is allowed since last 10 yrs by that moto Chopda but Pathan is bias according to them. This is definitely thay mfer Fatso's PR's doing. That lodu 7 averaging in last 10 tests thinks he can do anything after winning Side chick like CT. 

Posted (edited)

I think he too was in one of the camps,

Definitely wasn't neutral by any means

@Lordknows better

However,i like his opinion,this doesn't warrant his ouster

Edited by Suhaan
Posted
2 hours ago, Bigg Brother said:

Chutyapa like Rohitman Sharma, King Kohli, Dhoni Review system and other loads crap is allowed since last 10 yrs by that moto Chopda but Pathan is bias according to them. This is definitely thay mfer Fatso's PR's doing. That lodu 7 averaging in last 10 tests thinks he can do anything after winning Side chick like CT. 

Akash bosda

Posted
3 minutes ago, Suhaan said:

I think he too was in one of the camps,

Definitely wasn't neutral by any means

@Lordknows better

However,i like his opinion,this doesn't warrant his ouster

 

He is in Rohit camp and went after Pandya last season blatantly. 

Posted
11 minutes ago, Suhaan said:

I think he too was in one of the camps,

Definitely wasn't neutral by any means

@Lordknows better

However,i like his opinion,this doesn't warrant his ouster

 

6 minutes ago, Lord said:

 

He is in Rohit camp and went after Pandya last season blatantly. 

 

 

If you really enforce the "non bias" rule for commentators, you won't find any commie. Mumbai commies like Manju, Shastri, Gavaskar will be out for their bias in favor of Mumbai players and their worship of seniors.

 

Bhogle already showed his hand by clear bias for Andhra players, especially someone as useless as KS Bharath. Akaash Chopra can't wait to drop his pants for senior players. That's why going after Pathan sets a wrong precedence. This shows bias is ok, but only if "approved" by BCCI and seniors.

Posted
On 3/23/2025 at 3:58 PM, Austin 3:!6 said:

 

According to a report in the Times of India (TOI), Irfan has been snubbed from the panel as the "broadcasters were not happy with him bringing in personal grud

"Pathan had a fallout with a couple of players a few years ago. Since then, he has not shied away from referring to them aggressively. The matter was raised that other junior players got caught in the crossfire. He has been accused of taking potshots at them on social media platform even if he didn't name them," the report quoted a BCCI source as saying.

 

 

 

 

I don't follow cricket SM. Who are these 2 players?

 

 

Posted
3 minutes ago, Lord said:

 

Pandya brothers

 

On 3/23/2025 at 5:05 PM, Gollum said:

Ritika Sajdeh doing her thing. 

 

 

Wait why would Rohit's wife go after Irfan when he was against Hardik (who has a low key IPL fued with Rohit)? 

 

Did Irfan refuse to do PR for Rohit lol. 

 

Posted
Just now, AuxiliA said:

 

 

 

Wait why would Rohit's wife go after Irfan when he was against Hardik (who has a low key IPL fued with Rohit)? 

 

Did Irfan refuse to do PR for Rohit lol. 

 

 

Thats why I don't think its Rohit. 

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