The former cricketer\u2019s exclusion from commentary panel is linked to complaints about biased commentary
\n Kolkata
\nThe Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 season began on March 22 with a match between Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) and Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) at Eden Gardens, Kolkata.
\nHowever, the high-profile opening match was overshadowed by a major development in the world of cricket commentary: former Indian all-rounder Irfan Pathan\u2019s absence from the official IPL 2025 commentary panel.
\nIrfanPathan, a regular presence in previous IPL seasons, was conspicuously missing from the newly announced list of commentators by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI).
\nReports have surfaced indicating that Irfan Pathan\u2019s commentary style had become a point of contention among several Indian cricketers.
\nThe primary grievance stemmed from accusations that Irfan Pathan\u2019s commentary was biased and excessively critical of certain players.
\nSources suggest that some players felt his personal opinions were infiltrating his professional analysis, leading to complaints lodged against him.
\nA key flashpoint was Irfan Pathan\u2019s remarks on Virat Kohli during the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, which allegedly upset the star batsman. Irfan Pathan\u2019s critical stance on Hardik Pandya\u2019s return to domestic cricket also created tension.
\nReports further revealed that one unnamed player blocked Irfan Pathan\u2019s number, an action that underscored the growing rift between the commentator and certain players. This exclusion follows a pattern of discontent over the past few seasons.
\nIrfan Pathan has been accused of pushing a personal agenda during his commentary, with some players claiming that his interactions, particularly during interviews, came across as condescending.
\nThe BCCI, reportedly, could no longer overlook these concerns, leading to his removal from the panel.
\nOne source noted, \u201cIt\u2019s been happening for the last two years, where his personal biases were becoming evident.\u201d This unrest ultimately led the BCCI to make the decision to exclude him from the IPL commentary panel.
\nThe complaints reached a tipping point when an unnamed cricketer allegedly blocked Irfan Pathan\u2019s number after expressing displeasure over his critical comments.
\nThis isn\u2019t the first time that commentary changes have stirred controversy in Indian cricket. In 2020, Sanjay Manjrekar was removed from the BCCI\u2019s commentary panel following a series of on-air confrontations, including a famous disagreement with fellow commentator Harsha Bhogle.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
The former cricketer\u2019s exclusion from commentary panel is linked to complaints about biased commentary Kolkata The Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 season began on March 22 with a match between Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) and Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) at Eden Gardens, Kolkata. However, the high-profile opening match was overshadowed by a major development in […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[3],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-468782","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","6":"category-sports"},"yoast_head":"\n