Harbhajan Singh Reveals Sreesanth's Daughter's "You Hit My Father" Reaction Shattered Him; “Still Haunts”

The inaugural season of the Indian Premier League (IPL) in 2008 wasn't just remembered for its innovative T20 format-it also sparked headlines for one of its most controversial moments. In a post-match altercation in Mohali, Mumbai Indians captain Harbhajan Singh slapped Kings XI Punjab pacer Sreesanth, leaving the latter in tears on the field. The incident, dubbed "Slapgate," led to Harbhajan's suspension for the remainder of the tournament and cast a long shadow over both players.

"If I Could Change One Thing..."

Speaking on the YouTube show Kutti Stories with Ash, hosted by Ravichandran Ashwin, Harbhajan reflected on the incident with visible remorse. "If there's one thing I wish I could erase from my life, it's that incident with Sreesanth. It was wrong. I shouldn't have done that," he admitted candidly.

Harbhajan revealed that he has tried to make amends countless times over the years. "I must've apologised to him 200 times-on every platform, every chance I've got. It was a mistake that still weighs on me," he said.

An Unexpected Encounter with Sreesanth's Daughter

While Harbhajan and Sreesanth have since reconciled and share a friendly bond, the emotional fallout continues to affect Harbhajan. He recounted a particularly painful moment involving Sreesanth's young daughter.

"I met his daughter and was speaking to her lovingly," he shared. "But she looked at me and said, 'I don't want to talk to you. You hit my father.' That broke me. I was on the verge of tears. It made me wonder-what impression have I left on her? That's how she sees me."