Harbhajan Singh Criticises Release Of Infamous Slapgate Video, Reflects On Past Incident

Former cricketer Harbhajan Singh critiques the release of a video showing his slap on Sreesanth, expressing regret and acknowledging past mistakes while maintaining a positive rapport.

Updated: Monday, September 1, 2025, 16:52 [IST]

Former Indian cricketer Harbhajan Singh has finally addressed the release of the infamous slapgate video by Lalit Modi, the former IPL commissioner. The footage, which was recently revealed on Michael Clarke's podcast 'Beyond 23', shows Harbhajan slapping S Sreesanth after a 2008 IPL match between Mumbai Indians and Kings XI Punjab. This incident had not been broadcasted at the time, as TV channels cut to commercials.

Harbhajan's Reaction to Video Release

During a Ganesh Chaturthi event, Harbhajan expressed his disapproval of the video's release. He told Instant Bollywood, "The way the video has been leaked, it's wrong. It shouldn't have happened. They might have a selfish motive behind it. Something that happened 18 years ago, people have forgotten, and they are reminding people about it." He also mentioned feeling remorseful for his actions during that game.

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Former Indian cricketer Harbhajan Singh has commented on the release of the 2008 IPL slapgate video involving him and S Sreesanth, which occurred after a match between Mumbai Indians and Kings XI Punjab, resulting in an 11-match ban and loss of fees for Harbhajan. He expressed disapproval of the video's release and reiterated his remorse for the incident, for which he has repeatedly apologized.

The video shows Harbhajan delivering a back-handed slap to Sreesanth during post-match handshakes. This led to a tense situation as Sreesanth charged towards him, but teammates intervened to separate them. The incident was not well-received by the BCCI and IPL organisers, resulting in an 11-match ban for Harbhajan and loss of his fees due to a breach of conduct.

Apologies and Reflections

Harbhajan has repeatedly apologised for his actions over the years. On Ravichandran Ashwin's podcast, he expressed regret, saying he would avoid such behaviour if given another chance. Despite this past conflict, he now maintains a positive relationship with Sreesanth.

Reflecting on the incident, Harbhajan said it was unfortunate and reiterated his apologies. "Yes, the video has gone viral. It was an unfortunate incident, and I have said on many occasions that I made a mistake. Humans make mistakes, and I did one too," he stated.