Former Indian cricketer Irfan Pathan will not be part of the commentary panel for the upcoming IPL 2025 season. Reports suggest that Pathan was dropped from the lineup due to accusations of having a personal bias against certain Indian players.
The 18th edition of the Indian Premier League kicks off on March 22 at Eden Gardens, Kolkata, with defending champions Kolkata Knight Riders facing Royal Challengers Bengaluru in the opening match. The high-profile tournament will span over two months, culminating in the final at the same venue on May 25.
Irfan Pathan Faces Allegations of Bias in Commentary
Former cricketer Irfan Pathan has come under fire for alleged personal bias in his commentary, with multiple players reportedly raising concerns. According to MyKhel, one Indian team member was particularly upset with Pathan’s remarks during the Border-Gavaskar Trophy and even went as far as blocking him on his phone.
“A battery of cricketers complained about his commentary and said that he was bringing in his personal judgment. This didn’t go down well with the cricketers. One of the star players actually blocked him on his phone after hearing the way he was talking about the particular player during the Australian series,” sources told MyKhel.
The controversy has led to Pathan’s exclusion from the IPL 2025 commentary panel, adding to the heated debates ahead of the tournament.
BCCI Drops Irfan Pathan from IPL 2025 Commentary Over Alleged Bias
The BCCI has reportedly sidelined former cricketer Irfan Pathan from the IPL 2025 commentary panel due to concerns over his alleged personal agenda against certain players. According to reports, this decision follows similar actions taken against Sanjay Manjrekar in the past for critical remarks about players.
Sources indicate that the board was displeased with Pathan’s approach during interviews, both in international and IPL matches. His commentary style allegedly did not align with the BCCI’s expectations, leading to his exclusion.
“Otherwise, his 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 told MyKhel.
Irfan Pathan Launches YouTube Channel After IPL 2025 Snub
Following his exclusion from the IPL 2025 commentary panel, former cricketer Irfan Pathan has turned his attention to YouTube. He announced the launch of his new channel, Seedhi Baat with Irfan Pathan, on social media platform X (formerly Twitter), urging fans to support him.
“Sidhi baat karni hain? To phir aajao meri channel pe Insta, Facebook aur mera YouTube channel. YouTube channel pe main detail video banaoonga, sidhi baat karoonga aur sabse zyada aapko bhi maza aayega kyunki main aap logon ko bhi involve karoonga,” Pathan said.
“Jo aap fans hain, fans ne zabardast pyaar diya hai, mujhe bahut saalon tak. Mere YouTube pe bhi bahut pyaar dijiye, channel ko meri subscribe kariye aur wahan pe sidhi baat kariye. To phir aaiye, sidhi baat kariye Irfan Pathan ke saath!” he added.
Pathan, who made his international debut at 19 during India’s 2003-04 tour of Australia, had a career marked by early success but was later hampered by injuries and inconsistent form. He played a crucial role in India’s victories, including winning the Player of the Match award in the 2007 T20 World Cup final against Pakistan and the 2008 Perth Test triumph over Australia.
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