The infamous slapgate controversy from the IPL 2008 remains one of the most controversial episodes in the history of the tournament. Following a clash between Mumbai Indians and Kings XI Punjab, Harbhajan Singh lost his cool and slapped S Sreesanth during the customary post-match handshake.
Images of Sreesanth in tears spread quickly, creating a storm that overshadowed the league at the time. Although both the players reconciled long ago and have often been seen together since, the incident occasionally finds its way back into discussions.
The issue resurfaced recently when the IPL founder Lalit Modi appeared on a podcast with former Australian cricketer Michael Clarke. In the discussion, Lalit Modi revisited several controversial IPL moments and also revealed never-before-seen footage of the slapgate incident. He explained that while official broadcasters had turned their cameras off after the game, one of his security cameras had continued recording and captured the altercation between Harbhajan and Sreesanth.
The footage confirmed that Harbhajan Singh had delivered a back-handed slap to Sreesanth during the post-match routine. Although Harbhajan has since apologised multiple times and both the players have moved on, the release of the video after so many years has sparked outrage.
Here is the link of the video:
Harbhajan Singh's Ugly Slapgate Video With S Sreesanth Released By Lalit Modi
byu/Alarmed_Stop5856 inIndiaCricket
Click to watch this video directly on Reddit
Reacting strongly, Sreesanth’s wife Bhuvneshwari took to Instagram to criticise Lalit Modi and Michael Clarke. She said that it was shameful to revive an incident from 2008 just to gain attention and publicity, especially when both Harbhajan and Sreesanth had long left the matter behind and are now settled as family men.
She described the act as insensitive and unnecessary, adding that it was painful for their family to see an old controversy resurface after nearly two decades. She further emphasised that Sreesanth had rebuilt his life with dignity despite many hardships and reopening such wounds was unfair to him and their children.
Bhuvneshwari wrote, “Shame on you, @lalitkmodi and @michaelclarkeofficial. You people aren’t even human to drag up something from 2008 just for your own cheap publicity and views. Both @sreesanthnair36 and Harbhajan have long moved on; they are fathers now with school-going children and yet you try to throw them back into an old wound. Absolutely disgusting, heartless and inhuman.”
She further wrote, “@sreesanthnair36 has rebuilt his life with dignity and grace after every hardship he faced. As his wife and as the mother of his children, it is deeply painful for our family to see this resurface after 18 long years.”
For Sreesanth’s family, the decision to bring back the incident after 18 years has reopened old scars that they believe should have been left in the past. What once stood as an unfortunate chapter in Indian cricket is being revived again, raising questions about whether long-resolved controversies should be used for publicity at the cost of personal pain.
What is your take on this matter? Do let us know.
