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For nearly two decades, the actual video evidence of the infamous 'slapgate' incident involving India's spin legend Harbhajan Singh and S Sreesanth remained concealed from public view. The altercation occurred during the inaugural 2008 season of the Indian Premier League (IPL) after a match between Mumbai Indians (MI) and Kings XI Punjab (now Punjab Kings). While it was widely known that Harbhajan had slapped Sreesanth, the broadcast had cut to a commercial break at the crucial moment. Viewers were only shown the shocking aftermath, a visibly distressed Sreesanth in tears on the field, leaving the cricketing world stunned and speculative about the provocation that led a senior national player to strike his junior teammate.
After 17 Years Harbhajan-Sreesanth slapgate's real clip surfaces
Over the years, the two players have reconciled and are now on good terms, putting the controversial episode behind them. However, the mystery surrounding the event persisted until recently. After 17 years, the long-archived footage was finally made public when former IPL commissioner Lalit Modi released the clip during an appearance on Michael Clarke's Beyond23 podcast, offering the first visual confirmation of the incident.
"I'll tell you what happened. I will give you the video. I have kept it back. Bhajji is a very dear friend of mine. I love him. It happened on the field, and I was there. It was Bhajji, and it was Sreesanth. The game was over, and the cameras were shut off. Only one of my security cameras was on. As the team finished playing, the players were high-fiv5'ing' and shaking hands with each other. When it came to Sreesanth and Bhajji. Harbhajan just said to him, ‘Come here', and gave him a backhander," Modi told Clarke on his show.
The newly surfaced video is as unsettling as was imagined. It captures Harbhajan delivering a forceful, back-handed slap to Sreesanth during the customary post-match handshakes. The footage reveals that Sreesanth, after a moment of shock, did not back down and attempted to charge back at Harbhajan. A physical brawl was narrowly averted as teammates, including Irfan Pathan and Mahela Jayawardene, intervened to restrain Sreesanth. The scene remained tense, with Pathan approaching Harbhajan, who appeared to dismiss him while aggressively gesturing off-field, escalating the chaotic and unprofessional confrontation.
This altercation, which came to be known as 'slapgate', was the first major on-field controversy in the history of the Indian Premier League. The catalyst for Harbhajan's outburst was reportedly Sreesanth's seemingly taunting 'hard luck' comment, delivered with a smile, after Mumbai Indians had suffered a heavy 66-run defeat. However, this was the final straw in a series of events that had already frustrated the Mumbai camp. Earlier in the match, Sreesanth's on-field antics, including his reaction after dismissing Shaun Pollock and a verbal exchange with batsman Robin Uthappa, had contributed to the escalating tension.
In the immediate aftermath, while Harbhajan did apologize for his actions in the dressing room, the damage was already done. The image of a tearful Sreesanth became one of the most enduring and defining visuals of the IPL, symbolizing the high-stakes pressure of the new league. The incident drew widespread condemnation, notably from Yuvraj Singh, the opposing captain and one of Harbhajan's closest friends, who labeled the behavior as "ugly and unacceptable." In response to the breach of conduct, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) took decisive action, suspending Harbhajan for the remainder of the inaugural season.
However, till date Harbhajan isn't too proud of the incident as he has been heard apologising to Sreesanth many times on different interviews.
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