The IPL committee announced its commentary panel for the 18th season on Friday, but Pathan’s name was notably absent, sparking speculation that he had been removed despite his regular presence in past seasons.

Reports suggest that the decision came after complaints were lodged against Pathan, accusing him of deliberately targeting certain players during commentary.

Sources claim that for the past two years, he had been making comments driven by a personal agenda, which did not sit well with some Indian cricketers who also raised concerns about his conduct.

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This is not the first time a high-profile commentator has been sidelined.

In the past, former cricketers Sanjay Manjrekar and Harsha Bhogle were also suspended by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) due to similar controversies. Manjrekar was removed from the panel in 2020 following his contentious “bits and pieces” remark about Ravindra Jadeja during the 2019 World Cup.

Meanwhile, Bhogle was excluded from the IPL commentary panel in 2016, later expressing on social media that he never received a clear explanation for his removal.

In response to his exclusion, Pathan swiftly launched his own YouTube channel, sharing the update on ‘X’ with the caption: “Mic on, filter off. Let’s talk directly with Irfan and tell the truth.” He also announced that his channel would be available on Instagram, Facebook, and YouTube.

The IPL 2025 season kicked off on 22 March at Eden Gardens with an exciting opening match between Kolkata Knight Riders and Royal Challengers Bangalore.

However, Irfan Pathan was nowhere to be seen in the commentary box.