Former India off-spinner Harbhajan Singh has strongly criticised former IPL chairman and commissioner Lalit Modi for resurfacing the infamous “slapgate” incident involving him and pacer S. Sreesanth from IPL 2008. On August 29, Modi shared a video clip of the confrontation during an interview with former Australian captain Michael Clarke on the Beyond23 Cricket Podcast, reigniting a controversy that occurred nearly two decades ago.
Harbhajan, reflecting on the incident, expressed his disappointment at the decision to make the video public. “I didn’t understand why there was a need to make it public. Everyone thinks differently. Whatever happened was wrong, and I have already apologised for it. As a sportsman, I don’t think I should have done that. People learn from their mistakes, and if I had enough understanding back then, I wouldn’t have done it,” he told IANS.
The clip shows then-Mumbai Indians captain Harbhajan striking Sreesanth with a backhanded slap under the eye during a post-match handshake. Sreesanth reacted angrily, charging toward Harbhajan, which almost escalated into a physical brawl. Irfan Pathan and Mahela Jayawardene intervened just in time to prevent further escalation.
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The incident drew widespread media attention and condemnation, leading to a disciplinary hearing. Harbhajan received a ban for the rest of the season, and the BCCI later imposed a five-match ODI suspension for the altercation. The veteran spinner further questioned Modi’s intentions behind releasing the footage, emphasising the sensitivity of the matter.
Harbhajan Singh tore into ‘selfish’ Lalit Modi for leaking the S Sreesanth slapgate video on social media.https://t.co/fGS5fTyGYu
— CricketNDTV (@CricketNDTV) September 1, 2025
“Whatever happened 18 years ago, bringing it up again in public—I really don’t understand the motive behind that. I feel it would have been better if it hadn’t come out because there was no need for it. I don’t know what they were thinking when they released the video—maybe tey were under the influence or just messing around,” Harbhajan Singh added.
He concluded by stating that if he were in Modi’s position, he would have ensured that such a clip was never made public.
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The off-spinner’s comments reflect both his frustration and his belief that past mistakes, once addressed, should remain in the past, especially given the reputational and emotional impact on those involved. This episode reignites debates about accountability, public conduct, and the ethics of releasing historical sporting controversies on social media decades later.
