It’s been over 17 years since the infamous “Slapgate” incident during the inaugural edition of the Indian Premier League, but the emotional scars continue to haunt Harbhajan Singh and S. Sreesanth. The incident, which took place in 2008 after a match between Mumbai Indians and Kings XI Punjab, had shocked Indian cricket fans and left a lasting stain on the history of the IPL.
In a chat with Ravichandran Ashwin on his YouTube podcast show Kutti Stories, former Indian off-spinner Harbhajan Singh reflected on the bitter chapter of his life and the pain it still causes him today. Admitting full responsibility for the incident, Harbhajan shared how deeply he regrets the moment and wishes he could erase it from his past.
“One thing I’d want to change in my life is that incident with Sreesanth. I want to remove that incident from my career. That is the incident I would change from my list. What transpired was wrong and I shouldn’t have done what I did. I apologised 200 times. What I felt so bad was even years after that incident, I have been apologising every opportunity or stage I get. It was a mistake,” said Harbhajan on Kutti Stories with Ash.
“What hurt me even after many years was when I met his daughter and I was talking to her with a lot of love and she said, ‘I don’t want to talk to you. You hit my father.’ My heart was shattered and I was on the verge of tears. I was asking myself what is the impression I’ve left on her? She must be thinking of me in a poor light, right? She sees me as the guy who hit her father. I felt so bad. I still apologise to his daughter that I can’t do anything,” he added.
What happened in IPL 2008?
The controversy unfolded on April 25, 2008 during match 10 of the IPL between Mumbai Indians and Kings XI Punjab in Mohali. After the game ended, with Punjab registering a win, cameras captured an emotional Sreesanth crying on the field, it was later revealed that Harbhajan Singh had slapped him in the aftermath of the match. The incident shocked everyone and quickly became public, drawing widespread attention from all over. The IPL governing council acted swiftly, Harbhajan was banned for the remainder of the tournament, and the issue was referred to the disciplinary committee.
Where do Harbhajan and Sreesanth stand today?
Despite the emotional baggage of the slapgate, both cricketers have long moved on past the incident. They went on to play together for India after 2008 and were part of the iconic 2011 World Cup-winning squad. Their on-field chemistry returned to normal, and over time, they built a cordial, professional relationship.
Even post-retirement, the two shared the field again in several cricket leagues, showing that they have mended the personal ties, while the incident might never be completely erased from memory, both players have shown maturity in letting it not define their relationship permanently.
