Seventeen years after one of the Indian Premier League’s most infamous moments, fresh controversy has erupted with the sudden release of never-before-seen footage from the 2008 “Slapgate” incident. The video, aired during Michael Clarke’s podcast and attributed to former IPL commissioner Lalit Modi, shows Harbhajan Singh slapping Sreesanth during post-match handshakes in the first edition of the league. For years, the incident survived only through eyewitness accounts and media speculation, but the raw clip has now reignited debates, reopened old wounds, and sparked a storm of emotions across cricket circles.
The footage shows Harbhajan walking up to a smiling Sreesanth and striking him with his hand, visibly stunning the bowler, who breaks down immediately as teammates gather around. The slap had led to Harbhajan’s suspension for the rest of the 2008 season, but until now, the actual clip had never been made public. Cricket commentator Harsha Bhogle has revealed that the video was deliberately buried at the time to protect the credibility of the fledgling IPL, which was barely in its first season and couldn’t afford such negative publicity.
The resurfacing, however, has not been welcomed by everyone. Sreesanth’s wife, Bhuvneshwari, called the release “pathetic, heartless, and disgusting,” accusing those involved of exploiting a painful memory for cheap attention. She argued that both players have long moved on, are now raising families, and should not be dragged back into an incident that was resolved years ago. Her statement struck a chord with fans who believe personal lives should be shielded from constant dredging of past controversies.
Lalit Modi, on the other hand, defended himself, insisting he simply provided transparency by showing the long-hidden footage. He argued that the truth had been concealed for too long and there was no malice in sharing the clip. Still, many have accused him of seeking relevance by unearthing a controversy that the cricketing community had buried for good reason.
For Harbhajan Singh, the incident remains one of his career’s biggest regrets. He has repeatedly expressed remorse over his actions, and in light of the footage resurfacing, reiterated his wish to erase that chapter altogether. Sreesanth too has spoken in the past of moving forward, yet the images once again thrust him into the uncomfortable role of victim before a global audience.
The release has stirred deeper questions about how much of cricket’s history should remain archived versus exposed. Is full transparency necessary, even if it causes renewed emotional distress to those involved? Or should the game prioritize closure, allowing its figures to grow beyond past mistakes?
What is certain is that this “Slapgate” saga, which once threatened to taint the IPL’s very foundation, has proven it still holds emotional weight nearly two decades later. For some, it is a reminder of how volatile cricket’s early commercial era was; for others, it is simply an unnecessary reopening of a scar that should have stayed healed. Either way, the footage has reinserted itself into cricket’s collective memory—whether players and families like it or not.
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