The inaugural edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL) in 2008 was marred by one of its most infamous controversies – the “slapgate” involving Harbhajan Singh and Sreesanth. While fans have debated the incident for years, the actual footage of what transpired remained unseen—until now. Eighteen years later, raw video of the altercation has surfaced on social media, shedding new light on the controversy that shook the league.
IPL founder and former chairman Lalit Modi shared the never-before-seen footage on Instagram. In the video, Harbhajan Singh, donning the Mumbai Indians jersey, is clearly seen slapping Sreesanth of Kings XI Punjab during post-match interactions. Speaking to former Australian captain Michael Clarke on the Beyond23 Cricket Podcast, Modi detailed the moment, noting that it occurred amid routine handshakes and player greetings.
ALSO READ: Virender Sehwag Names India’s Top 3 Players To Watch In The Asia Cup
“It happened absolutely. It was Bhajji, it was Sreesanth. The players are going, thanking each other, shaking hands. Sreesanth and Bhajji… Bhajji just looks at him and just gives him a backhander,” Modi explained. The then-chairman confirmed that Harbhajan was penalised, receiving an eight-match suspension for his actions.
View this post on Instagram
#WATCH : One of the wildest chapters in IPL history resurfaces
Unseen footage of the infamous Harbhajan Singh & Sreesanth ‘Slapgate’ incident has emerged. A moment that shook the league back in 2008 and was never aired publicly until now.#IPL #Slapgate #HarbhajanSingh… pic.twitter.com/hZFGCOsPJO
— upuknews (@upuknews1) August 29, 2025
Over the years, Harbhajan has publicly expressed deep regret over the incident. In a recent discussion with Ravichandran Ashwin on Ashwin’s YouTube channel, the veteran off-spinner opened up about the emotional impact of the event.
“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. I apologised 200 times. Even years later, I keep apologising whenever I get the chance,” Harbhajan said.
ALSO READ: Roger Binny Steps Down as BCCI President, Rajeev Shukla Takes Over As Acting Chief
He also shared the personal sting of the incident when meeting Sreesanth’s daughter. “She said, ‘I don’t want to talk to you. You hit my father.’ My heart was shattered. I was asking myself what impression I’ve left on her. She must be thinking of me in a poor light, right? I felt so bad. I still apologise to his daughter,” he added.
The release of this unseen footage not only rekindles memories of one of IPL’s most talked-about controversies but also highlights the lasting personal impact it had on both players involved, especially Harbhajan Singh, who continues to grapple with the incident decades later.
