The Re-Emergence of an 18-Year-Old Controversy
One of the darkest moments in the history of the Indian Premier League (IPL) has resurfaced after 18 years. Lalit Modi, the founding chairman of the IPL, has released the raw, previously unseen footage of the infamous “slapgate” incident involving Harbhajan Singh and S Sreesanth. The shocking altercation occurred in the inaugural season of the IPL in 2008, during a post-match confrontation between Mumbai Indians and Kings XI Punjab.
While the IPL has since grown into cricket’s richest and most successful T20 league, the resurfacing of this video has reignited memories of a controversy that has never quite faded away.
How the Incident Unfolded
The incident occurred after Kings XI Punjab defeated Mumbai Indians in a league match. Harbhajan Singh, who was leading the Mumbai side in the absence of Sachin Tendulkar, reportedly lost his cool after the defeat. Television cameras at the time showed Sreesanth visibly in tears, but the actual footage of the altercation was never broadcast to the public.
In his recent conversation with Australian World Cup-winning captain Michael Clarke on the Beyond23 Cricket Podcast, Lalit Modi revealed that the untelevised moment was captured by a security camera.
“The game was over, cameras were shut off. One of my security cameras was on. It caught the incident between Sreesanth and Bhajji, and Bhajji just gives him a back-hander,” Modi said.
Lalit Modi’s Decision to Release the Footage
Modi admitted that he had deliberately kept the clip under wraps for nearly two decades. “I hadn’t put it out for so long. We have 18 years behind us for this,” he said. The release of the video has triggered fresh debate on whether such incidents should remain hidden for the sake of players’ reputations or be revealed to preserve cricket’s history in full transparency.
Harbhajan Singh’s Regret and Public Apologies
Over the years, Harbhajan Singh has repeatedly expressed deep regret about his behavior that day. Speaking in an interaction with Ravichandran Ashwin earlier this year, the veteran off-spinner called it the one moment from his cricketing journey that he would erase if given a chance.
“One thing I’d want to change in my life is that incident with Sreesanth. I want to remove that incident from my career. What transpired was wrong and I shouldn’t have done what I did,” Harbhajan admitted.
He added that despite apologising countless times, the stigma of the episode still follows him. “Even years after that incident, I have been apologising every opportunity I get. What hurt me even more was when I met Sreesanth’s daughter. I was talking to her lovingly, but she said, ‘I don’t want to talk to you. You hit my father.’ My heart was shattered. I was on the verge of tears. That impression still hurts me deeply,” he revealed.
Impact on Careers and Public Image
The slapgate episode led to significant disciplinary action at the time. Harbhajan Singh was banned for the remainder of the 2008 IPL season, while the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) strongly condemned his conduct. Sreesanth, though not punished, found himself at the center of unwanted attention, with his tearful image becoming symbolic of the controversy.
Though both players eventually moved past the incident and represented India together in later years, the shadow of slapgate has lingered. Harbhajan retired from professional cricket in 2021, while Sreesanth announced his retirement in 2022. The resurfacing of the footage has now revived uncomfortable memories for both players.
A Reminder of IPL’s Early Turbulence
The IPL is now celebrated worldwide as cricket’s most glamorous league, but incidents like slapgate highlight the turbulent beginnings of the tournament. For fans and players alike, the resurfacing of this clip is a stark reminder that even cricketing legends are not immune to mistakes in the heat of the moment.
As Lalit Modi’s release of the video stirs debate, the incident continues to serve as both a lesson in sportsmanship and a moment cricket lovers wish had never occurred.
