The infamous 2008 IPL “Slapgate” incident — when Harbhajan Singh slapped fellow cricketer S Sreesanth — has once again come into the spotlight after former IPL chairman Lalit Modi shared video evidence of the altercation during a recent episode of Michael Clarke’s Beyond 23 Cricket Podcast.
This has led to a strong backlash, most notably from Sreesanth’s wife, Bhuvneshwari Kumari, who took to Instagram to slam Modi and Clarke for reopening a painful chapter of their lives for what she called “cheap publicity and views.”
The 2008 IPL ‘Slapgate’ Incident: A Brief Recap
The altercation occurred during the inaugural season of the Indian Premier League (IPL) when Mumbai Indians (MI), captained by Harbhajan Singh at the time, played against Kings XI Punjab (now Punjab Kings) in Mohali. Following the match, TV cameras showed Sreesanth in tears — a moment that dominated headlines the next day.
It was later confirmed that Harbhajan had slapped Sreesanth following a heated exchange. As a result, Harbhajan was fined and banned for 11 matches, effectively ending his participation in the rest of the 2008 tournament.
Despite the incident, both cricketers moved on with their careers. Harbhajan went on to become one of the most successful bowlers in IPL history, playing for MI, CSK, and KKR, winning four titles and taking 150 wickets. Sreesanth played 44 IPL matches, taking 40 wickets with an economy rate of 8.11.
Bhuvneshwari Slams Modi and Clarke for Reopening Old Wounds
Reacting to Lalit Modi’s decision to speak publicly about the slapgate incident on the podcast, Bhuvneshwari expressed deep hurt and anger, accusing both Modi and Clarke of dragging up the past just to gain attention online.
“@sreesanthnair36 has rebuilt his life with dignity and grace after every hardship he faced,” she wrote on Instagram. “As his wife, and as the mother of his children, it is deeply painful for our family to see this resurface after 18 long years.”
She further said that reviving this controversy not only hurts the players but also affects their children who now face uncomfortable questions and social stigma due to an incident that took place nearly two decades ago.
“Shame on you @lalitkmodi and @michaelclarkeofficial,” she added. “You people are not even human to drag up something from 2008 just for your own cheap publicity and views… Absolutely disgusting, heartless, and inhuman.”
Lalit Modi Responds: “I Only Spoke the Truth”
Lalit Modi responded to the criticism by defending his comments. In a statement to IANS, he said he was simply answering a question honestly and did not intend to hurt anyone.
“I don’t know why she is getting angry,” Modi said. “I was asked a question, and I shared the truth. Sree was the victim, and that’s exactly what I said.”
Modi emphasized that no one had previously asked him about the incident, and when it came up on Clarke’s podcast, he chose to be transparent.
Despite the renewed controversy, both Harbhajan Singh and Sreesanth have moved forward in life, now enjoying family life and careers beyond the cricket field. But the resurfacing of this old controversy has clearly touched a nerve, especially for those who lived through its fallout firsthand.
