Harbhajan Singh reveals being shut down by Sreesanth's daughter over the 'Slapgate' incident
The inaugural edition of the IPL was jolted by a massive controversy when Harbhajan Singh infamously lost his cool at Sreesanth. The pair of Indian spinners were embroiled in an incident that still remains fresh in the minds of Indian cricket fans. Harbhajan Singh was representing Mumbai Indians at the time, while Sreesanth played for Kings XI Punjab, now known as Punjab Kings. KXIP handed a massive 66-run defeat to MI in the 10th match of IPL 2008. However, the win and the game were both overshadowed when an enraged Harbhajan slapped Sreesanth right across his face following the conclusion of the match.
Harbhajan Singh reveals being left on the verge of tears by Sreesanth's daughter
Harbhajan Singh joined Ravi Ashwin for the latter's YouTube show, Kutti Stories with Ash. There, the former Indian off-spinner opened up about the infamous 'Slapgate' incident. After slapping Sreesanth following the league-stage match between KXIP and MI in IPL 2008, Harbhajan Singh was handed a ban for the remainder of the season. However, regardless of the punishment he faced, Harbhajan still regrets the incident. The former Indian spinner spoke about apologising for the Slapgate incident multiple times. Yet, the episode remains etched in memory as one moment Harbhajan would like to undo if given the chance.
“One thing I’d want to change in my life is that incident with Sreesanth. I want to remove that incident from my career. That is the incident I would change from my list. What transpired was wrong and I shouldn’t have done what I did. I apologised 200 times. What I felt so bad was even years after that incident, I have been apologising every opportunity or stage I get. It was a mistake,” said Harbhajan.
Emphasising the toll that the Slapgate incident took on him, Harbhajan Singh opened up about one specific episode. Years after the IPL 2008 event, the former Indian spinner met Sreesanth's daughter. However, the cricketer's daughter refused to talk to Harbhajan. Harbhajan revealed that he was left on the verge of tears as Sreesanth's daughter gave him a harsh reminder of him 'hitting' her father.
“What hurt me even after many years was when I met his daughter and I was talking to her with a lot of love and she said, ‘I don’t want to talk to you. You hit my father.’ My heart was shattered and I was on the verge of tears. I was asking myself what is the impression I’ve left on her? She must be thinking of me in a poor light, right? She sees me as the guy who hit her father. I felt so bad. I still apologise to his daughter that I can’t do anything,” he added.
With time, both Sreesanth and Harbhajan have left the controversy behind and now enjoy a cordial relationship. The two continued to represent India together in the years that followed and were teammates in the squad that clinched the 2011 World Cup. Even after retiring from international cricket, they've reunited on the field through various veteran leagues featuring former players.
