Former India all -rounder Irfan Pathan recently came into the limelight when he was suddenly dropped from the commentary panel of IPL 2025. For a long time there was speculation that Rohit Sharma or Virat Kohli is behind his removal. But Irfan himself has made a big disclosure in an interview. He told that in fact, a player was hurt by his clean and impeccable opinion, and this became the real reason for his commentary panel to be removed.

Not Rohit-Kohli, this player was the reason for Irfan’s withdrawal

Irfan Pathan said in an interview to The Lalantop that his IPL 2025 commentary panel could actually be associated with all -rounder Hardik Pandya. He said that he had criticized Hardik in Mumbai Indians in the very first season of captaincy, which was probably hurt by his ego.

Irfan believes that the job of a commentator is to analyze the players’ game fairly. He clearly said, “If I am criticizing 7 of the 14 matches, I am still softening. This is our job.”

There is no revolutionary between Hardik and me- Irfan

Irfan said that there is no revolutionary between him and Hardik. Irfan said, there is no rivalry. After me the players of Baroda came -Deepak Hooda, Krunal Pandya or Hardik Pandya, none of them can say that Irfan -Yusuf did not help them. ”

Irfan has defended Hardik

Irfan also reminded that he had defended Hardik in difficult times, especially when the fans of Mumbai Indians attacked him after snatching Rohit Sharma’s captaincy.

Irfan said, “There is nothing wrong in criticizing a player. If you play then you have to face all this. This happened to Sunil Gavaskar and the great Sachin Tendulkar. But he never made anyone feel that he is older than the game. But I am against the derogatory words used for Pandya.”

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“Afridi has eaten dog meat, then it is barking …” Irfan Pathan gave a befitting reply to Shahid Afridi, know the whole story

The IPL season 18 (2025) was not started well for Mumbai Indians captained by Hardik Pandya, but the arrival of Jaspreet Bumrah brought new energy to the team. The team was a strong contender to make it to the top 2, but after the defeat to Punjab Kings on Monday, it was decided that now MI will have to play the eliminator match. Mumbai Indians have played eliminator matches 4 times earlier, but in all these seasons she could not reach the final.

First tell you about the IPL format. In this tournament started with 10 teams, the team qualifies for the playoffs, who finished top 4 in the points table. Now the top 2 teams of these get 2 opportunities to go to the IPL final. Even if she loses the first match (qualifier 1), she plays in the second match (qualifier 2). Punjab Kings have confirmed their place in the top 2.

Whereas the third and fourth teams have to hold a hat -trick of victory to win the IPL Trophy. There is an eliminator match between these two, the journey of the losing team ends and the winning team has to play the qualifier 2. Apart from Mumbai Indians, it is not yet decided which team will play the eliminator match.

Mumbai Indians record of eliminator matches

For the first time under Hardik’s captaincy, Mumbai Indians have reached the IPL playoffs, but under the captaincy of Rohit Sharma, the team has won 5 titles. A total of 10th time is when Mumbai Indians have reached the playoffs.

Under the captaincy of Rohit Sharma, Mumbai Indians won the first title in 2013. After this, MI won the IPL Trophy in 2015, 2017, 2019 and 2020. Mumbai was in the top 2 in all these 5 seasons.

For the first time Mumbai reached the final in 2010, under the captaincy of Sachin Tendulkar, the team then stood first in the points table. However, that season CSK defeated him in the final.

Apart from all these seasons, the team also reached the playoffs in 2011, 2012, 2014 and 2023, but it stood third or fourth in the points table. In all these seasons, the team did not even reach the finals to win the title.

• 2011 Mi won the eliminator but lost the qualifier 2.
• 2012 I lost the Mi Eliminator match.
• 2014 I also lost in the Mi Eliminator match.
• 2023 I won the Mi Eliminator match but lost the qualifier 2.

Mumbai Indians have played an eliminator match in a total of 4 times in IPL history, out of which win in 2 and 2 have been defeated. But after becoming a third or fourth team in any season, she did not become champions.

When and where will the eliminator match be played

The eliminator match will be played at Mullanpur Cricket Stadium on 30 May. Which team will play with Mumbai Indians, this will be clear after the result of LSG vs RCB match. If RCB wins, Gujarat will play eliminator, otherwise RCB.

Mumbai Indians squad for IPL 2025 playoffs

Bewon Jacobs, Rohit Sharma, Suryakumar Yadav, Tilak Verma, Charith Asanka, Hardik Pandya (Captain), Michel Santner, Naman Dhir, Richard Glison, Robin Minj (wicket keeper), Johnny Bairstow (wicket keeper), Krishnan Sreejith (wicket keeper), wicket keeper, Allah Ghaznafar, Arjun Ghaznafar, Ashwani Kumar, Deepak Bumrah, Karn Sharma, Lizad Williams, Mujib ur Rehman, Raghu Sharma, Rece Toplay, Satyanarayan Raju, Trent Bolt, Vignesh Puthu.

Lsg vs mi 2025: Tilak Verma was not out in the match against Lucknow Super Giants on Friday but he had to leave the ground under the retired out rule. This decision was taken by Mumbai Indians as he was unable to hit a big hit in the last overs. He scored 25 runs but played 23 balls for this, in this innings he hit only 2 fours. This match lost by Mumbai Indians by 12 runs. Tilak has become the fourth player in IPL history who left the ground in this way. Let’s know what is retired out rule in IPL?

The first retired batsman in IPL is R Ashwin. In the 2022 season, Ashwin used to play for the Rajasthan Royals team, that season he went out retired out in a match. Ashwin is the first retired batsman to be retired in IPL history.

In 2023, Atharva Taida also retired out of the ground. Atharva, who was involved in Punjab Kings, was called out in a match against Delhi Capitals in Dharamshala. Sai Sudarshan was also retired out the same season. Sudarshan, who was involved in the Gujarat Titans, was called out without being out under the retired out rule. At this time Gujarat captain was Hardik Pandya.

Sky’s sad reaction for tilak verma when they make him retired out.

It will truly dent the confidence of tilak varma
pic.twitter.com/jjoy60cqai

– Radha (@RKC1511165) April 5, 2025

What is retired out?

Due to injury several times in the IPL, the player goes out and then before the innings is over, it can come back to bat but it is not in retired out. Under this rule, a team can call their batsman out without the permission of the umpire and can send the new batsman instead. It is considered a retired out and the batsman cannot come back to bat. However, if permission is received from the opposing team and umpire, then the batsman can come back to bat again. In such a situation, he will have to wait for the wicket to fall.

IPL 2025: Ashwini Kumar has made a great debut in the IPL, she created history by taking 4 wickets in her debut match. In this match against KKR, he took a big wicket on his first ball as Ajinkya Rahane. He was voted the best player of the match for this historic performance. Mumbai Indians captain Hardik Pandya praised him fiercely.

Hardik Pandya expressed happiness over the victory and said that the way we did well as a group and won it is satisfactory. Everyone contributed to the victory, nothing can be more happy than this. Choosing a player is always a challenge. Our team is organized with the players that we are supporting and the players we have.

Ashwini Kumar was chosen by Mi Scout

Hardik Pandya said after the match, “We thought that Ashwini Kumar (on this pitch) can do the way he is bowling. It is all scouts work, they chose it. They went to all places and chose these young players. We played a practice match, in which they impressed. He played late swing, some of the wickets, some of the wickets, we supported him. The wicket was a very important wicket, and the way he took D Kock’s catch, it was fantastic.

Debut straight out of a storybook

The perfect first chapter for Ashwani Kumar

Updates https://t.co/iewchzdrnm#Tataipl , #Mivkkr , @Mipaltan pic.twitter.com/npaynbivix

– Indianpremierleague (@IPL) March 31, 2025

For Rs 30 lakh, Mumbai Indians bought Ashwini Kumar in the auction for IPL 2025. Ashwini said after the match that he wants to make everyone proud of his form. He said in the inning break, “All the people of my village must be watching these matches. All of them were waiting for my debut and by the grace of God I got a chance today and I did well.”