Irfan Pathan’s Alleged Criticism of Players, Including Virat Kohli, Sparks Controversy
Irfan Pathan Dropped from IPL 2025 Commentary Panel Amid Serious Allegations. According to Indian media, former Indian all-rounder Irfan Pathan has been removed from the IPL 2025 commentary panel following serious allegations.
The IPL 2025 season began with a match between Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) and Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) at Eden Gardens, Kolkata. However, Pathan’s absence from the grand opening ceremony was noticeable.
The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) released its official commentary panel, but Pathan’s name was missing, despite him being a regular and popular commentator known for his out-of-the-box analysis.
Several Indian cricketers reportedly complained about Pathan, accusing him of biased commentary and targeting specific players with a personal agenda. One cricketer even blocked Pathan’s number after the controversial statement made during India’s series against Australia, which escalated the controversy.
Reports suggest that Pathan has been allegedly criticising some players over the past two years, which has not gone down well with BCCI officials. His comments on Virat Kohli‘s form during the 2024 Border-Gavaskar Trophy are believed to be a factor in the controversy.
Notably, former cricketer and commentator Sanjay Manjrekar has also faced similar allegations in the past and was removed from the panel after making controversial statements.
