IPL 2008 Slapgate: Chilling Video Shows Harbhajan Singh Slapping Sreesanth, Released After 17 Years

An unseen video of the infamous "slapgate" incident from the inaugural season of the Indian Premier League (IPL) in 2008 has surfaced after 17 years. The clip shows former India off-spinner Harbhajan Singh slapping pacer S Sreesanth during the customary post-match handshakes after Match No. 10 between Mumbai Indians and Kings XI Punjab in Mohali. The altercation remains one of the most talked-about controversies from IPL's early years.

The footage was released by IPL's founder, first chairman, and commissioner Lalit Modi during his appearance on Michael Clarke's Beyond23 Cricket Podcast. When Clarke asked if the incident had really occurred, Modi confirmed it, saying, "It happened. Absolutely. And I'll tell you what happened."

Modi explained that one of his security cameras had captured the moment as he was walking onto the field. "As players were exchanging handshakes, Bhajji just looked at Sreesanth, said something, and gave him a backhander. That's what the footage shows," Modi revealed, adding that his cameraperson had filmed what television cameras missed. He admitted that the video had been kept under wraps for 18 years before finally being released.

The fallout was immediate back in 2008. Sreesanth was seen in tears, inconsolable as his teammates tried to comfort him. Although Harbhajan attempted to reconcile with him on the field, the Kings XI Punjab pacer refused. The disciplinary consequences were swift, with Harbhajan being suspended for the remainder of the tournament, handed an 11-match ban for misconduct.

Later, Harbhajan issued an apology, and over time the two players reconciled. Remarkably, just a few years after the controversy, both went on to be part of India's 2011 World Cup-winning squad, leaving the ugly episode behind them.