Former India player and commentator Navjot Singh Sidhu turned 62 on October 20, and wishes poured in from all corners of the cricketing world. Among them, former India all-rounder Irfan Pathan sent a special post wishing Sidhu on social media, saying he had great admiration and love for the veteran. Sidhu, being himself, shot back with a tearful note that quickly went viral.

The two cricket commentators have been loved by fans for their entertaining commentary and friendly banter. Sidhu and Pathan have made audiences laugh, think, and appreciate cricket in a different way. No matter how controversial or critical of the crew they are, they impressed fans with their charm and deep understanding of the game.

Posting his birthday wish on X (formerly Twitter), Pathan said, "Subah Jalandhar sham ko Delhi Nahi. Shamko mere Ghar pe apka birthday sath me. @sherryontopp Paaji wishing you the best birthday. Have a great one."

Sidhu's Heartwarming Reply Wins Fans Over

Sidhu, a person with a poetic spirit and a positive vibe, responded with love, saying, "Zaroor Irfan, tum No.1 commentator ho aur No.1 insaan ho. Your wishes are my armour... truckloads of love." His emotional words reflected the deep mutual respect between the two. Pathan later replied, “Apka pyaar hamesha bana rahe,” showing the bond they share both on and off the field.

Zaroor Irfan , tum no 1 commentator ho aur no 1 insaan ho …. Your wishes are my armour … truckloads of love 🥰

— Navjot Singh Sidhu (@sherryontopp) October 20, 2025

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Navjot Singh Sidhu played for India between 1983 and 1999, appearing in 51 Tests and 156 ODIs and scoring 3202 and 4413 runs, respectively. Irfan Pathan, however, appeared in 29 Tests, 120 ODIs, and 24 T20Is and scored 2821 runs and took 301 wickets overall. Despite being from different eras of cricket, their friendship as Indian Premier League as well as international cricket commentary is still making fans around the world happy.

In a candid and unusual outburst, India ODI skipper Rohit Sharma has criticized the state of cricket commentary in India as "disappointing" and "agenda-driven." In an honest interview with cricket writer Vimal Kumar, Rohit did not mince words, accusing most commentators of spreading negativity rather than enlightening people about the nuances of the game.

The commentaries on television today are so disappointing," said Rohit. "When I travel to Australia, their commentaries are entirely different. Day and night is how different it is. Over here in India, it is as if the commentators' motto is to choose a player to target and go negative.

Rohit's comments follow an emotionally charged season of the IPL, during which he announced his retirement from Test cricket in the middle of the tournament. While fans and commentators alike were stunned by his choice, it also fueled renewed debates over player mental well-being, media scrutiny, and the behavior of athletes in response to public opinion.

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He is so so right about the the Indian commentators. He technically exposed Star Sports and its panel who do PR for and against a certain player in the guise of being fair. pic.twitter.com/t9P4fjFyOB

— Irroh (@irroh45) May 8, 2025

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Rohit Sharma calls for honest, thoughtful cricket commentary instead of drama and controversy

What appears to have particularly annoyed the 36-year-old opener is the tendency among certain Indian commentators and journalists to dwell on controversies or promote certain agendas. "There's no space for agenda-driven criticism," he added. "Cricket is a beautiful game, full of nuances. People watch to understand it better. But if we keep offering masala instead of insight, we are failing the fans."

The India skipper's words have ignited controversy in the world of cricket. While some of his critics claim that players should learn to accept criticism as part of professional sport, others have commended Rohit for raising a problem faced by many sportsmen but whom they are hesitant to discuss publicly.

Sharma's words are a wake-up call for broadcasters and ex-cricketers in the commentary box to look at their methodology. As cricket itself changes, the need for smart, balanced, and analytical reporting is increasing and India's cricketing world will have to reconsider the way it communicates to its millions of fans.