The infamous 'Slapgate' incident from the very first season of the IPL has resurfaced on the internet once again, as it made headlines after the IPL founder, Lalit Modi, released an unseen video clip.
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The controversy arose when former Indian off-spinner Harbhajan Singh slapped his opponent and fellow Indian S Sreesanth during an IPL game, leaving the fans shocked.
WATCH: Unseen Sreesanth and Harbhajan Singh slapgate video
The 'slapgate' incident occurred after the IPL game between the Mumbai Indians and Kings XI Punjab in 2008. Harbhajan Singh, who was playing for MI, was seen slapping the Kings XI player S Sreesanth.
After more than 17 years since the incident, the video of the incident has finally been released and has gone viral all over social media.
Lalit Modi, the founder of the IPL, shared the video of the incident on his Instagram account, igniting the talks over the controversial incident.
One of the wildest moments in IPL history, Unseen footage of the Bhajji–Sreesanth slapgate that never been aired#IPL pic.twitter.com/E9Ux8bodOW
— Vishal (@Fanpointofviews) August 29, 2025
"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 was heard as saying on Michael Clarke's podcast. "I sat them both down, and I had to penalize Bhajji in the meeting. I did penalize him for 8 games," he added.
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The incident shocked the entire cricketing world and was one of the most controversial moments in the history of the Indian Premier League.
Harbhajan's reaction to the slapgate incident
Harbhajan has repeatedly apologized to the Indian pacer for the incident, especially through public platforms. During a recent podcast with R Ashwin, he revealed that he deeply regretted what happened on that day.
"One thing I’d want to change in my life is the 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 have been apologizing at every opportunity or stage I get. It was a mistake," Harbhajan was quoted as saying on Ashwin's YouTube channel.
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The incident wasn't ideal and such things even raise questions over the spirit of the game. Harbhajan was seen as an aggressive player throughout his career; however, he has since regretted the incident and a meeting Sreesanth's young daughter over a decade later nearly broke him.
"What hurt me even after many years was when I met his daughter...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 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 apologize to his daughter," Harbhajan concluded.
However, things appear to have gotten better between the Indian duo. Sreesanth and Harbhajan work together in Indian cricket broadcasts together in 2025.