The 2008 Indian Premier League saw one of its most infamous incidents when Harbhajan Singh slapped fellow Indian teammate S Sreesanth after a match between the Mumbai Indians and the Kings XI Punjab. The moment, which came to be known as “slapgate”, was never broadcast publicly.
Now, after 17 years, former IPL commissioner Lalit Modi has revealed the unseen footage in a podcast with former Australia captain Michael Clarke. The incident shook Indian cricket at the time and left a lasting mark on Harbhajan’s career.
How the Slapgate Incident Happened
The clash took place on April 25, 2008, in Mohali after the Mumbai Indians suffered a 66-run defeat. Players from both sides were shaking hands when Harbhajan stopped Sreesanth and gave him a backhand slap.
Lalit Modi released an unseen video of the Bhajji–Sreesanth slapgate. pic.twitter.com/nH5vhpLyAe
— Mufaddal Vohra (@mufaddal_vohra) August 29, 2025
Sreesanth, who had teased Harbhajan with a “hard luck” comment, was left distraught and even tried to retaliate. The situation nearly escalated into a fight before Irfan Pathan and Mahela Jayawardene pulled Sreesanth away. Pathan also confronted Harbhajan, who appeared to challenge him outside the ground.
Lalit Modi Reveals Pressure for Harsher Punishment
Speaking on the podcast, Modi explained why the footage was kept away from the public eye for so long. “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,” he said.
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He added that some officials even demanded a lifetime ban on Harbhajan. “I sat them both down, and I had to penalize Baji in the meeting. He got an eight-game suspension, and some people were gunning for a lifetime suspension,” Modi revealed.
Harbhajan’s Regret Years Later
The incident left Harbhajan deeply regretful. Speaking with R Ashwin on YouTube, he admitted it was the one chapter of his career he wished he could erase.
“One thing I’d want to change in my life is the incident with Sreesanth. I want to remove that incident from my career. That is the incident I would change from my list. What transpired was wrong, and I shouldn’t have done what I did. I apologised 200 times,” Harbhajan said.
A Painful Encounter With Sreesanth’s Daughter
Harbhajan revealed that years later, he was heartbroken when Sreesanth’s daughter refused to talk to him.
“What hurt me even after many years 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 and I was on the verge of tears,” he recalled.
He added that he still hopes she will one day see him differently. “I wish when she grows up, she doesn’t see me in the same light. And think her uncle will always be with her and extend any kind of support he can. That’s why I want to remove that chapter.”
