Quick Summary
Lalit Modi has released raw security footage of the infamous Harbhajan Singh–Sreesanth “slapgate” from IPL 2008, showing the exact moment Harbhajan struck his India teammate. The video comes nearly 18 years later and follows Harbhajan’s repeated public apologies, including one to Sreesanth’s daughter. The resurfacing revives a controversial chapter from the IPL’s early days.
A Forgotten Chapter Resurfaces After 18 Years
The Indian Premier League (IPL) has grown into cricket’s richest franchise tournament and a global sporting juggernaut. But its very first season in 2008 was marked by controversy, none bigger than the infamous “slapgate” incident involving Harbhajan Singh and S. Sreesanth.
For years, fans had only second-hand accounts of what happened between the two India teammates after a match between the Mumbai Indians and the Kings XI Punjab. Now, IPL’s founder and former chairman Lalit Modi has reignited the conversation by releasing previously unseen security footage of the altercation.
The Moment Caught on Camera
Speaking on the Beyond23 Cricket Podcast with former Australia captain Michael Clarke, Modi explained why the clip remained hidden for nearly two decades.
“The game was over, cameras were shut off. One of my security cameras was on. It caught the incident between Sreesanth and Bhajji (Harbhajan), and Bhajji just gives him a back-hander. Here’s the video,” Modi said, before showing the raw footage.
He added: “I hadn’t put it out for so long. We have 18 years behind us for this.”
At the time, Harbhajan, then captaining the Mumbai Indians in Sachin Tendulkar’s absence, was suspended for the remainder of the IPL season. The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) also imposed a fine after an internal disciplinary hearing.
Harbhajan Singh’s Public Regret
The resurfacing of the video comes months after Harbhajan himself revisited the incident during a candid chat with spinner Ravichandran Ashwin. The veteran off-spinner expressed deep regret, calling it the one mistake he wishes he could erase from his career.
“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 apologized 200 times. Even years later, I’ve been apologizing every opportunity I get,” Harbhajan admitted.
He also revealed the personal toll it took, sharing a moment with Sreesanth’s daughter that left him shaken:
“What hurt me 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. I still apologize to his daughter.”
Sreesanth’s Response Over the Years
While Sreesanth had publicly wept on the field immediately after the incident in 2008, he has long maintained that he forgave Harbhajan. The two former teammates have since been seen together on television shows and at cricket-related events, signaling reconciliation.
Still, Modi’s release of the footage has once again brought the incident into sharp public focus, especially for younger fans who may have only read about “slapgate” in old reports.
Why This Matters to IPL History
The timing of Modi’s release is telling. As the IPL continues to expand, attracting billion-dollar broadcast deals and a growing international audience, the resurfacing of raw, behind-the-scenes footage from its early controversies provides a stark reminder of how far the league has come.
Back in 2008, the IPL was still experimenting with its identity. Slapgate was not just a personal clash, it was a disciplinary test for a brand-new league trying to establish credibility on the world stage.
What Comes Next
It remains to be seen whether the footage will change public perception of the incident or reopen old wounds. For Harbhajan, his regret has been clear and consistent. For Modi, the release adds another dramatic footnote to his already controversial tenure as IPL’s founding chairman.
As for fans, the newly surfaced clip will likely fuel debates online about whether such incidents should remain buried or whether history, no matter how uncomfortable, deserves to be fully visible.