Cricket fans were left stunned this week as the actual video of Harbhajan Singh slapping S. Sreesanth during the inaugural season of the Indian Premier League (IPL 2008) finally surfaced online — 17 years after the incident shook Indian cricket.
The rare footage, released by former IPL commissioner Lalit Modi on Michael Clarke’s Beyond23 Podcast, shows what really happened during one of the most infamous episodes in IPL history, often remembered as “Slapgate.”
The Slap That Shocked IPL 2008
The incident took place after a heated IPL match between Mumbai Indians and Kings XI Punjab (now Punjab Kings) in April 2008.
The official broadcast cameras had stopped rolling after the game, but an unseen security camera caught Harbhajan Singh delivering a backhand slap to Sreesanth when the two shook hands.
In the newly released video, Sreesanth appears visibly upset after being struck and reacts emotionally, sparking immediate tension.
The footage also reveals how quickly things escalated. An angry Sreesanth moved toward Harbhajan as if to retaliate, and for a moment, the situation looked like it could turn into a physical brawl on the field.
Thankfully, senior cricketers including Irfan Pathan and Mahela Jayawardene intervened and separated the two before matters worsened. Harbhajan, still fuming, even gestured toward the boundary rope, as if challenging Sreesanth to take the fight outside.
It was a moment of raw aggression and emotion that stunned the cricketing world then — and is shocking fans all over again now that the video has finally gone public.
Post-Incident – Punishment and Apology
The consequences were severe. The BCCI and IPL governing council quickly stepped in. Harbhajan Singh was banned for the remainder of IPL 2008, and the incident made national headlines.
Years later, Harbhajan openly admitted that the incident was the biggest regret of his career. In a conversation with Ravichandran Ashwin, he said:
“If there’s one thing I could erase from my career, it would be that moment with Sreesanth. It was wrong. I’ve apologized many times.”
Sreesanth, too, later forgave Harbhajan, and the two eventually reconciled, moving forward as friends.
Why the Video Matters Today
For over 17 years, fans had only heard stories about what exactly happened. Many had seen Sreesanth crying on the field after the incident but never witnessed the actual confrontation.
With Lalit Modi releasing the unseen footage now, the clip is offering fans a new perspective on IPL’s early years:
- It shows the unfiltered emotions cricketers carry on the field.
- It reminds us that even legends of the game can lose their temper.
- It highlights how far both players have come in terms of maturity and forgiveness.
This video isn’t just a look back at an ugly moment — it’s also a reminder of how time can heal wounds.
The resurfaced video has gone viral across social media, sparking heated debates among fans. Some call it one of the darkest moments in IPL history, while others see it as a story of redemption and reconciliation.
While the slap remains unforgettable, it also shows the importance of controlling emotions, even in high-pressure tournaments like the IPL. Today, both Harbhajan Singh and S. Sreesanth have retired from international cricket, but this incident continues to be one of the most talked-about moments in the league’s history.
