17 years after 'Slapgate', never-seen-before video of Harbhajan Singh hitting Sreesanth finally surfaces: Watch
The infamous 'slapgate' incident is counted among the most scandalous moments in IPL history. Harbhajan Singh slapped Sreesanth after Kings XI Punjab beat Mumbai Indians in a crucial match-up during the inaugural IPL season. However, all that the 'slapgate' incident brings to people’s minds is the visual of a crying Sreesanth. The actual footage of Harbhajan slapping the Punjab player never made it to the public, and all that was broadcast at the time was the aftermath of the incident. Now, after almost two decades, the much-longed-for clip is finally out.
Lalit Modi finally releases the 'Slapgate' video: Watch Harbhajan Singh slapping Sreesanth
In the 18-season-long history of the IPL, no moment has ever managed to match the controversy stirred by Harbhajan Singh. Playing for Mumbai Indians in IPL 2008, the spinner lost control and slapped Sreesanth. Irked by the chirpy Kings XI Punjab bowler, who had won the match, the MI player moved Sreesanth to tears with his scandalous hit. While the events surrounding the slap are well known to the audience, the actual moment itself was kept well under wraps. However, that has now changed as former IPL chairman Lalit Modi has released the clip.
Lalit Modi released an unseen video of Bhajji–Sreesanth slapgate. pic.twitter.com/nH5vhpLyAe
— Mufaddal Vohra (@mufaddal_vohra) August 29, 2025
For years, the true visual of the infamous clash remained hidden. All that was known was that Harbhajan Singh had slapped Sreesanth after Kings XI Punjab (now Punjab Kings) defeated Mumbai Indians during the inaugural IPL season. When the altercation occurred, the broadcast abruptly cut to commercials, and by the time the coverage resumed, the only images shown were of Sreesanth in tears. The shock was amplified by the fact that both men were Indian teammates.
Much has changed since then. The two cricketers have reconciled, moved on, and even built a friendship. Yet, after 17 years, the mystery surrounding the moment has finally lifted with the release of the actual footage. The clip shows Harbhajan delivering a backhanded slap during the customary post-match handshakes. The incident left players and fans alike stunned, an India teammate striking another on such a stage.
Sreesanth, realizing what had happened, instinctively charged towards Harbhajan, who appeared ready to retaliate. A fight seemed imminent until Irfan Pathan and Mahela Jayawardene intervened, restraining Sreesanth. Pathan even confronted Harbhajan, but the spinner, still seething, pointed towards the stands as if to challenge him to continue the dispute off the field.
The video finally surfaced in public recently when Michael Clarke sat down for a conversation with Lalit Modi. Speaking on the Beyond23 podcast, the IPL’s founder and former chairman opened up about the infamous Slapgate incident. While Modi described the scenes verbally, the video was also shown on screen in a shocking turn of events.
"I'll tell you what happened. I will give you the video. I have kept it back. Bhajji is a very dear friend of mine. I love him. It happened on the field, and I was there. It was Bhajji, and it was Sreesanth. The game was over, and the cameras were shut off. Only one of my security cameras was on. As the team finished playing, the players were high-fiv5'ing' and shaking hands with each other. When it came to Sreesanth and Bhajji. Harbhajan just said to him, ‘Come here', and gave him a backhander," Modi said.
This episode, later branded “Slapgate,” became the very first major controversy in IPL history, setting the tone for many more to follow. The flashpoint had been triggered by Sreesanth’s cheeky “hard luck” comment to the MI skipper after Punjab’s thumping 66-run win. Harbhajan Singh eventually issued an apology, but the lasting image of Sreesanth sobbing that night remains etched in IPL folklore. The BCCI acted swiftly, suspending Harbhajan for the rest of the season.
