Rohit Sharma and Irfan Pathan in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy
Shubman Gill was named the new captain, taking charge of the future. Another surprising change came off the field when Irfan Pathan was removed from the commentary panel. His sudden exit left many wondering about the exact reasons behind the decision.
During the Border-Gavaskar Trophy in 2024-25, India’s Test side found itself under immense pressure. Australia won the series 3-1, ending India’s long dominance in the contest. One of the biggest talking points was the form of captain Rohit Sharma, who had a poor run with the bat. Among those who did not shy away from pointing this out was former all-rounder Irfan Pathan. His blunt analysis during commentary eventually became a subject of controversy, and months later, he revealed that this may have been the reason behind his exit from the IPL 2025 commentary panel.
Pathan, who has been a regular voice in the commentary box in recent years, spoke about the matter in a television interview. Without naming anyone directly, he suggested that his remarks on senior players, especially Rohit Sharma, did not go down well with certain people. He explained that while many felt his criticism was harsh, he only did what a commentator is supposed to do: give an honest picture of the game for the audience. Rohit’s numbers in that Test season gave weight to Pathan’s argument. Across eight matches, the Indian opener could only manage 164 runs. On this, Irfan said:
Look, I believe that the job of commentators is to tell the story beyond what is visible, what is happening, why it is happening, and why it is happening. What can happen, why and how can it happen? This is the job of a commentator. If a player performs well, then praise him. If he cannot do so, then criticise him. The responsibility of the commentator is not for the player but for the fans.
His returns included a solitary half-century, while in most innings he struggled to get going. For a player who has dominated limited-overs cricket, these figures looked worrying. Pathan had then remarked that if Rohit was not captain, his place in the Test team might not have been secure. According to him, this observation was based purely on cricketing logic and not on any personal bias. Pathan stressed that the role of a commentator is not to please players but to serve the fans watching the game. He explained that his job was to break down what was happening, why it was happening, and what could happen next.
If a player performs well, then he deserves praise, but if he underperforms, that too should be discussed. For him, hiding the weaknesses of big names would mean doing an injustice to the viewers. The former all-rounder also touched upon the accusation that commentators were overly supportive of Rohit Sharma on-air. He clarified that this was not the case. In his words, when a player or guest comes on a broadcast platform, basic courtesy demands politeness. He said that the gestures of respect towards Rohit were misread as biased, but behind the scenes, the commentary team did raise genuine questions about his place in the side. He added:
Rohit Sharma is an amazing white-ball player. However, his average in Test cricket that year was 6. So we said that if Rohit was not the captain, he would not have got a place in the playing eleven. People say that we have supported Rohit over the top. Obviously, if anyone comes on your broadcasting channel, you will not misbehave with them. Like you have invited me, I have come, so you will show politeness. And you should show politeness. When Rohit also came, he was our guest. It was presented as if we are supporting him. But we were the ones who said that he does not deserve a place. However, this did not work. The interview thing was more talked about.
He pointed out that the remark about Rohit not deserving a spot based on form was made openly, yet the focus shifted to allegations of favouritism. Adding fuel to the discussion was Rohit’s decision to step aside from the Sydney Test against Australia. Pathan’s comment around that time was interpreted by many as a dig at Rohit, but he insists it was only part of a broader conversation about India’s team selection and leadership. Soon after, reports emerged that Pathan had been left out of the IPL 2025 commentary line-up. Officially, whispers suggested that he had carried personal grudges on-air and targeted players he had issues with in the past.
While no names were confirmed, speculation quickly pointed towards Rohit Sharma. Pathan did not deny this link but maintained that his analysis was strictly professional. This situation has sparked a larger debate about the freedom commentators have in cricket. Should they call out poor performances of star players without fear, or should they hold back to avoid conflicts with boards, broadcasters, or the cricketers themselves? Pathan believes the answer is simple: the primary responsibility is to the fans.
When the news first broke about Irfan Pathan’s exit from the IPL 2025 commentary panel, there was a lot of speculation around what happened. Many reports hinted that his departure might have been linked to his comments about Hardik Pandya, especially during Pandya’s debut season as captain of the Mumbai Indians. Pathan himself has now spoken openly about the issue, giving his side of the story and clearing the air around the incident. The former Indian all-rounder, who has been part of television commentary for years, said he was surprised at how the matter was portrayed.
According to him, doing commentary means giving honest analysis, and that is what he always tried to do. Pathan explained that if he criticised Pandya in seven matches out of fourteen, that still meant he was being fair and not harsh. According to him, a broadcaster’s responsibility is to point out both the positives and the negatives, and it should not be taken personally by any player. At the same time, Pathan dismissed any idea that he held grudges against Pandya. He reminded everyone that he had always tried to help players from Baroda, including Hardik, his brother Krunal, and Deepak Hooda. On this, he said:
If I’m criticising you in 7 matches out of 14, I’m still being lenient. That is our job as broadcasters. There is no rivalry. All the Baroda players who have come after me, Deepak Hooda, Krunal Pandya or Hardik Pandya, none of them can say that Irfan-Yusuf did not help them. VVS Laxman admitted on Star Sports that he was at fault for not listening to me and not picking Hardik in 2012. If he had picked him then, Hardik would have played for Hyderabad.
Pathan said both he and his brother Yusuf, supported younger players by arranging sponsorships and putting in good words for them when needed. This, he stressed, showed that there was no rivalry or bad blood between him and Pandya. To explain this further, Pathan shared an old story from 2012. At the time, he had recommended Hardik Pandya’s name to Sunrisers Hyderabad as a young talent who deserved a chance. However, the suggestion was ignored. Later, VVS Laxman himself admitted publicly that it was a mistake not to pick Hardik back then.
For Pathan, this was proof that he had always looked out for Hardik’s career, rather than held him back. Pathan also highlighted the times when he defended Hardik in public. One example he mentioned was in 2024, when Mumbai Indians fans were upset after Rohit Sharma was replaced as captain. Pandya received a lot of negative reactions from the crowd, and during that time, Pathan stood by him. He made it clear that his comments as a commentator are always directed at the cricket being played, not the individual. He concluded:
There is nothing wrong in criticising the player, if you play, you have to go through that. It happened with Sunil Gavaskar, the great Sachin Tendulkar… they never made anyone feel that they were bigger than the game. But I’m against the derogatory words used against Pandya.
He went on to add that criticism is a natural part of being a professional cricketer. Even legends like Sunil Gavaskar and Sachin Tendulkar faced criticism during their careers, but they never let it overshadow the game. For Pathan, the important thing is that the words used should never be insulting. He said he does not support derogatory remarks against Pandya or any other player, but fair analysis is something every athlete must accept.
After the recently concluded five-match Test series between India and England, former all-rounder Irfan Pathan spoke strongly about the ongoing debate of workload management, especially concerning fast bowlers. India managed to level the series 2-2 despite missing experienced names like Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma. On the bowling front, Mohammed Siraj stood out as the highest wicket-taker of the series with 23 wickets. Jasprit Bumrah, India’s premier pacer, returned to Test cricket after recovering from a back injury in January. However, he played only three of the five Tests, where he claimed 12 wickets, including two five-wicket hauls. He said:
I believe that technology and recovery should go hand in hand. You should also listen to your body. But once you step onto the field, workload shouldn’t be a consideration anymore. Then it’s just a battle. One team against another. You have to win. It’s a battle, and your only focus should be on winning by any mean.
Pathan, while not naming Bumrah directly, questioned the modern trend of restricting bowlers based on pre-decided limits. Speaking to TheLallantop, Pathan explained that technology and recovery methods are important, but once a player enters the field wearing the Indian jersey, the only goal should be to give everything for the team. He further added:
I’m talking about everyone, not just one player. Everyone. Siraj, on the last day of the last Test, was bowling at 145 km/h. He has a workload too, right? This applies to everyone. But once you step in, you give it your all.
He emphasised that Test cricket is a battle and the focus must be on winning, not counting overs or spells. To support his point, Pathan highlighted Mohammed Siraj’s effort. Siraj played all five Tests without a break and bowled with full intensity, even clocking speeds over 145 km/h on the final day at the Oval. His five-wicket haul in that match ensured India’s thrilling six-run victory.