The infamous Harbhajan Singh–Sreesanth “slap-gate” controversy from the inaugural edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL) in 2008 has resurfaced following remarks made by former IPL chairman Lalit Modi. Speaking on ex-Australian cricketer Michael Clarke’s Beyond23 Cricket Podcast, Modi claimed to possess unseen footage of the altercation that shook the league in its early days. The fresh spotlight on the 18-year-old incident has triggered a strong reaction from Sreesanth’s family, with his wife issuing a scathing statement against Modi and Clarke for “dragging up old wounds” for publicity. “Shame on you @lalitkmodi and @michaelclarkeofficial. You people are not even human to drag up something from 2008 just for your own cheap publicity and views. Both @sreesanthnair36 and Harbhajan have long moved on, they are fathers now with school-going children, and yet you try to throw them back into an old wound. Absolutely disgusting, heartless, and inhuman,” she wrote in her post.
Sreesanth’s wife on Instagram (Screengrab)
She further highlighted how the resurfacing of the episode has affected her family. “@sreesanthnair36 has rebuilt his life with dignity and grace after every hardship he faced. As his wife, and as the mother of his children, it is deeply painful for our family to see this resurface after 18 long years. Families are being forced to relive trauma that was buried decades ago only so you can chase views. This doesn’t just hurt the players, it scars their innocent children who now have to face questions and shame for no fault of theirs.”
Sreesanth’s wife on Instagram (Screengrab)
The 2008 incident occurred during a clash between Kings XI Punjab (now Punjab Kings) and Mumbai Indians in Mohali. After Punjab’s victory, tempers flared and Mumbai’s stand-in skipper Harbhajan Singh slapped Sreesanth during the post-match exchanges. The fallout saw Harbhajan suspended for the remainder of the season and fined, while both players eventually reconciled years later.
Sreesanth’s wife on Instagram (Screengrab)
Despite the reconciliation, Modi has now stirred the controversy once again, claiming his security cameras captured what television cameras missed. “It happened. Absolutely. And I’ll tell you what happened,” Modi told Clarke, adding that he had kept the video private for nearly two decades. Sreesanth’s wife, however, called the move deeply insensitive. “You should be sued for doing something so cheap and inhumane. Sreesanth is a man of strength and character, and no video can take that dignity away from him. Fear God before you hurt families and innocent children for your own gain,” she wrote. She also criticised the handling of comments on the podcast’s page. “So pathetic! You deleted my comment instead of facing the truth. If you can post for views, at least have the courage to keep the truth visible,” she added. The former Rajasthan Royals bowler also reshared the same on his Instagram afterwards.
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While Harbhajan and Sreesanth have since moved on with their professional and personal lives, the resurfacing of the 2008 episode has once again thrust one of IPL’s most controversial moments into public debate.
