Following the Test retirements of Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli during the IPL 2025 season, and the subsequent appointment of Shubman Gill as Test captain, Irfan Pathan provided insights into Rohit Sharma’s situation. He mentioned in an interview that had Rohit Sharma not been the captain, he would not have been included in the playing XI, pointing towards his performance during the Australian tour.
Pathan discussed Rohit Sharma’s struggles during the Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25, noting that the opening batsman would have been dropped if he wasn’t the captain. Pathan acknowledged Sharma’s talent in white-ball cricket but underscored his poor Test average during the series. He clarified that this poor performance would have likely resulted in his exclusion from the team, if he weren’t captain.
Furthermore, the former Indian cricketer addressed queries about supporting Rohit despite his performance. He said that as a commentator, he is obliged to show respect to interviewees. He underscored the importance of treating Rohit with decorum since he was invited to be interviewed. His explanation included that they treated him with respect as he was their guest.
The Indian team experienced a difficult Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25 series in Australia. Rohit Sharma’s form was a concern, accumulating only 31 runs across 5 innings, averaging just 6.20. He then withdrew from the Sydney Test. Irfan Pathan, after retiring from cricket, is currently working as a commentator.
Pathan did not get a commentary opportunity in IPL 2025. It was reported that his criticism of specific players, including Rohit Sharma, led to his exclusion from the commentary panel.