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In a stunning development, former Australian cricketer Michael Clarke has brought fresh attention to the infamous IPL 2008 ‘slapgate’ by sharing previously unseen video footage of Harbhajan Singh’s altercation with Sreesanth. The revelation has reignited debate in the cricketing world about one of the league’s most shocking moments.
Lalit Modi confirms Harbhajan Singh’s famous slapgate moment with Sreesanth
The newly viral clip emerged during Clarke’s ‘Beyond23 Cricket Podcast,’ where he conversed with ex-IPL chairman Lalit Modi. In the dialogue, Clarke asked Modi about the notorious incident, to which Modi replied, “It happened. Absolutely. And I’ll tell you what happened. One of my security cameras was on… and it caught the moment. As players were exchanging handshakes, Bhajji just looked at Sreesanth, said something, and gave him a backhander. That’s what the footage shows.” Modi also revealed, “I haven’t put it out for so long. But yes, it happened,” adding that the video had been kept private for nearly 18 years, unseen by the public until now.
Here’s the video:
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The incident led to serious sanctions on Harbhajan
The “slapgate” incident occurred during the inaugural 2008 season of the Indian Premier League following a match between Mumbai Indians and Kings XI Punjab. An emotional Sreesanth was seen in tears after Harbhajan delivered the shocking slap, leading to widespread outrage and disciplinary action. The incident received widespread criticism of Harbhajan from the cricketing fraternity, who felt his actions were a betrayal of sportsmanship. The fallout was swift and severe: Harbhajan was suspended for the remainder of the IPL season and given an 11-match ban. The consequences of the incident even extended to the international stage, as Harbhajan was also subsequently banned for five One-Day Internationals by the BCCI. Though both players have since reconciled and spoken about the incident, the controversy remains a significant part of IPL folklore.
