Virat or Rohit? Irfan Pathan Reveals Reason Behind IPL Commentary Firing

Irfan Pathan discloses the name of the person due to whom he was snubbed for IPL 2025 commentary.

Virat or Rohit? Irfan Pathan Reveals Reason Behind IPL Commentary Firing

L: Irfan Pathan, R: Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli and Hardik Pandya (Image via Dainik Bhaskar?X)

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In a country where the pedestal of an Indian cricketer is greater than life at times, many pay the price for their comments on mistakes made by the cricketers. The IPL 2025 brought with it a mystery of why famous former cricketer and current commentator Irfan Pathan was missing from the commentary panel.

Fans love Pathan’s blunt takes on Team India and the IPL and were missing his voice dearly this time around. Reports suggested that Pathan was sacked from the commentary panel due to a few remarks made by him with the microphone in recent times.

Most fans speculated that Pathan’s criticism of Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli in the 2024-25 Border-Gavaskar Trophy brought about his sacking from the IPL. Pathan had questioned the spots of the celebrated duo in the playing XI with their consistency dwindling, stating that ‘star culture’ in the side has allowed both the players to be a part of the side.

A statement as straightforward as that didn’t sit well with many fans. However, in a recent interview with Lallantop, Pathan disclosed the real reason why he was left out of the commentary gig. When the interviewer plugged in Hardik Pandya‘s name in the conversation and asked Pathan whether any of his words hurt the all-rounder, this is what Pathan had to say.

There are 14 matches in the IPL. If I point out a mistake 7 times despite you making it 14 times I am being lenient on you.

Irfan Pathan said

Pathan, with a giggle, agreed to the interviewer’s mention of Hardik Pandya. He was once again straightforward saying that he wasn’t harsh with his statements but in fact was lenient with the way he corrected Pandya from time to time in the 2024 IPL. He was further asked about if there were any issues in the Gujarat lobby considering both hail from the same part of the country.

Ask any player from the Vadodara team. Not even one player will say that Irfan Pathan and Yusuf Pathan (Irfan’s brother) haven’t supported them in their careers.

Irfan Pathan added

Pathan was very confident of the backing he had given his state players and was sure no one was against him in the Gujarat cricket circuit.

What did Irfan Pathan say about Hardik Pandya during the 2024 IPL season?

The 2024 season was a dismal one for Hardik Pandya when it came to IPL cricket. He was mocked heavily by many and surprisingly, fans of his own franchise when he took over the captaincy of Mumbai Indians from Rohit Sharma. Many felt he undeservingly took charge of the side.

To make matters worse, the Mumbai team finished last in the points table, and Pandya himself looked way off color. There seemed to be a certain level of uneasiness in the team, and Pathan in his analysis made note of everything.

Irfan Pathan had a lot to say about Hardik Pandya during IPL 2024.
Hardik Pandya and Irfan Pathan (via Hindustan Times)

He started by questioning the death bowling skills of Pandya after the latter gave away 43 runs in 3 overs against Chennai Super Kings. He felt the all-rounder lacked skills and the mental strength to bowl in high pressure situations.

Pathan then tore into Pandya’s captaincy skills, stating that he didn’t trust his players and made some questionable decisions in the field. A line of his that was famous at the time said, “You always want your leader to do the difficult things. If he doesn’t do it, he won’t earn the team’s respect.”

Pathan further also mentioned that Pandya must not pick and choose the formats and tournaments he plays. He must play as many games as possible for the country as that would benefit the side immensely considering the skills Pandya possesses.

Reportedly, these statements didn’t sit well with Pandya and the IPL committee ruling it in favor of Pandya, sacked Pathan from the commentary panel. Pathan continues to be himself, and fans love that nature, wanting him to make a comeback in the commentary box to share his opinions on the sport.

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