September 1, 2025: Former Indian cricketer Harbhajan Singh has strongly criticized ex-IPL chairman Lalit Modi for releasing a video of the 2008 “Slapgate” incident involving him and pacer S. Sreesanth. The footage, which had never been publicly shown, appeared during a recent episode of Michael Clarke’s podcast, “Beyond23 Cricket.”
The original incident took place on April 25, 2008, after an IPL match between Mumbai Indians and Kings XI Punjab in Mohali. Sreesanth reportedly approached Singh to shake hands, saying “hard luck,” but Singh, upset over his team’s defeat, slapped him. The event was captured on camera at the time, leading to widespread media coverage and an 11-match suspension for Singh.
Responding to the video release, Harbhajan Singh described the move as “selfish” and unnecessary. He expressed regret over his actions, calling the 2008 incident “unfortunate” and stating that both he and Sreesanth have long moved past it. “Revisiting this after so many years serves no purpose,” Singh remarked.
Sreesanth’s wife, Bhuvneshwari, also criticized the resurfacing of the footage, calling it “hurtful” and accusing Modi of exploiting an old controversy for attention. She highlighted that both players had reconciled years ago and urged respect for their personal lives.
Lalit Modi defended himself, claiming that he released the footage simply to answer a question during the podcast and did not intend to cause harm. Nevertheless, the video’s release has sparked debate on social media, with fans divided between defending Singh and questioning the timing of the release.
The controversy underscores the delicate balance between documenting sports history and sensationalizing past events. While such incidents remain part of cricket’s record, the ethics of revisiting them continue to provoke discussion among fans, players, and sports analysts.
