Not Virat Kohli or Rohit Sharma – Irfan Pathan names the player who wanted him out of IPL commentary | Cricket News

Former Indian cricketer Irfan Pathan (Photo by Gareth Copley/Getty Images)

Former India all-rounder Irfan Pathan has addressed hypothesis about his elimination from the IPL 2025 broadcast workforce, revealing that it was Hardik Pandya, not Virat Kohli or Rohit Sharma, who had issues about his on-air criticism. Speaking in an interview with The Lallantop, Pathan clarified the state of affairs and mentioned his previous assist for Pandya whereas defending his function as a broadcaster.Pathan defined his strategy to cricket commentary and the necessity of constructive criticism in broadcasting.“If I’m criticising you in 7 matches out of 14, I’m still being lenient. That is our job as broadcaster,” Pathan acknowledged in the interview.The former cricketer emphasised that there was no private animosity between him and Pandya, highlighting his historical past of supporting cricketers from Baroda.“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,” Pathan shared.Pathan recalled a big incident from 2012 when he had really helpful a younger Hardik Pandya to Sunrisers Hyderabad, demonstrating his early recognition of Pandya’s potential.

He revealed that VVS Laxman later acknowledged lacking a chance by not following his suggestion. “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 disclosed.The former all-rounder additionally talked about his assist for Pandya throughout difficult occasions, significantly when the player confronted backlash from Mumbai Indians followers following Rohit Sharma’s elimination from captaincy earlier than IPL 2024.Pathan defended his stance on cricket criticism whereas sustaining that it ought to stay skilled and never private.“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, they were bigger than the game. But I’m against the derogatory words used against Pandya,” he defined.Pathan’s feedback make clear the advanced relationship between cricket broadcasters and gamers, highlighting the steadiness between skilled criticism and private respect in sports activities commentary.The revelation about his elimination from the IPL broadcast workforce and the subsequent clarification offers perception into the behind-the-scenes dynamics of cricket broadcasting and player relationships.