Former India all-rounder Irfan Pathan has finally broken his silence on one of the most debated topics of the last IPL season—his sudden exit from the commentary panel.
While fans speculated that criticism of stars like Virat Kohli or Rohit Sharma might have cost him the job, Pathan has now revealed that it was Hardik Pandya, not a “legend,” who played a role in his ouster.
The revelation has sent ripples through the cricketing world, opening up a heated debate on how much honesty is “too much honesty” in sports broadcasting.
Speaking candidly in an interview with The Lallantop, Pathan said that while most assumed his fallout was with big names such as Kohli or Rohit, the reality was quite different.
“It wasn’t Virat, it wasn’t Rohit… it was Hardik Pandya,” Pathan revealed.
The former swing king explained that as a commentator, his job was to give viewers an honest assessment of performances—even if that meant pointing out flaws.
“If I criticise you in seven matches out of 14, I’m actually being very lenient. My job is to be honest with the viewers, not to flatter players.” – Irfan Pathan.”
Despite confirming that Pandya was behind the move, Pathan was quick to stress that there was no personal enmity between the two. In fact, he reminded everyone of his long-standing support for Hardik and his brother Krunal during their early days in Baroda cricket.
“None of them can say that Irfan-Yusuf didn’t help them,” Pathan stated firmly.
He even recalled how, back in 2012, he recommended Hardik to then-Sunrisers Hyderabad mentor VVS Laxman. Years later, Laxman admitted that not picking Hardik was a missed opportunity. This story, Pathan believes, shows that he has always backed the Pandya brothers.
The turning point came during the IPL 2024 season, where Pathan’s sharp commentary about Hardik’s captaincy and form reportedly struck a nerve. Pandya, who had already been facing the brunt of fans after a rough season with Mumbai Indians, didn’t take kindly to repeated criticism on-air.
Pathan explained, “There’s nothing wrong in criticizing a player. If you play cricket, you will have to go through scrutiny. But I’ve never used derogatory words for Hardik. I’ve only spoken about what I saw on the field.”
For broadcasters, though, even subtle friction between a player and a commentator can create headaches—especially when the player in question is one of the biggest IPL faces.
Even as he opened up about the controversy, Pathan made sure to strike a balanced tone. He defended his right to critique but also defended Hardik against personal abuse from fans and media.
“I was against people calling him names or using harsh language. That’s not right. Criticism should be about the game, not character assassination,” he explained.
This balanced stand has earned Pathan even more respect among neutrals, who see him as someone who understands both the player’s struggle and the commentator’s duty.
Irfan Pathan’s revelation that Hardik Pandya, not Kohli or Rohit, was behind his IPL commentary exit, has thrown open a debate about the role of broadcasters in modern cricket.
Should commentators always speak their mind, even if it offends players? Or should they hold back to keep everyone happy?
Whatever the answer, one thing is clear: Pathan’s departure has left a void in the commentary box, and fans will continue to miss his sharp insights and fearless opinions—qualities that made him stand out in a sea of safe voices.
