Overview:
The incident quickly became a hot topic within the cricketing world and resulted in Harbhajan being banned from the IPL for the remainder of the season.
Former India cricketer Harbhajan Singh recently opened up about the infamous slapgate incident involving Sreesanth and the lasting effect it had on the latter’s daughter. In 2008, after the 10th match of the first-ever Indian Premier League (IPL) season, Harbhajan slapped Sreesanth following the encounter between Kings XI Punjab (now Punjab Kings) and Mumbai Indians in Mohali.
The incident quickly became a hot topic within the cricketing world and resulted in Harbhajan being banned from the IPL for the remainder of the season. Reflecting on the event, the former spinner admitted that he wanted to completely erase it from his career.
“One thing I would change in my life is the incident with Sreesanth. I wish I could erase that moment from my career. It was a mistake, and I shouldn’t have acted the way I did. I’ve apologised countless times, and what truly hurts is that even years later, I’ve continued to apologise whenever I get the chance. It was wrong,” Harbhajan said on Kutti Stories with Ash.
Harbhajan also remembered a touching moment with Sreesanth’s daughter, who brought up the incident by saying, “You hit my father,” which left him profoundly affected.
“What really hurt me, even after all these years, was when I met his daughter. I was speaking to her with so much love, and she replied, ‘I don’t want to talk to you. You hit my father.’ My heart broke, and I was close to tears. I kept wondering what impression I had left on her. She must see me as the person who hurt her father. It made me feel terrible. Even now, I apologise to her, feeling like there’s nothing I can do to change it,” he added.
Both Sreesanth and Harbhajan have long since moved on from the controversy and now maintain a cordial relationship. They played together for India for several years, including being part of the 2011 World Cup-winning squad. After retiring, the two have also shared the field in various veterans’ cricket leagues.