Legendary spinner Harbhajan Singh recently opened up about the infamous incident involving S Sreesanth during the first season of the Indian Premier League (IPL) in 2008. Reflecting on the episode, Harbhajan admitted that he should not have slapped the pacer after a match between Kings XI Punjab and Mumbai Indians.
For those unaware, Sreesanth was visibly emotional and seen in tears after the altercation, with his teammates comforting him. Reports suggested that certain remarks made during the game triggered Harbhajan’s reaction.
The veteran off-spinner was later found guilty of misconduct, resulting in a suspension for the remainder of the season and an 11-match ban. On R Ashwin’s YouTube channel Kutti Stories, Harbhajan said the incident’s impact on Sreesanth’s daughter still reminds him of his mistake.
“One thing I’d want to change in my life is that incident with Sreesanth. So, yeah, I want to remove that incident from my career, my wishlist. What transpired was wrong, and I shouldn’t have done what I did. I apologised some 200 times. What I felt so bad was… even years after that incident, I have been apologizing every opportunity or stage I get.”
“We all make mistakes, and we hope and try to never repeat such mistakes. He was my teammate, and we were playing together. Yes, in that game, we were opponents. But it shouldn’t have gone to that level where we behave in such a manner.”
He further continued: “But what really hurt me, even after many years, is when I met his daughter. And I was talking to her with a lot of love. 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. 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 apologize to his daughter that I can’t do anything. But if there’s anything I can do to make you feel better and make you think I am not that kind of person, please tell me. I wish that when she grows up, she doesn’t see me in the same light. Her uncle will always be with her and extend any kind of support he can. I want to remove that chapter,” he added.
S Sreesanth reflects on shocking slapgate incident with Harbhajan Singh
In a 2024 interview, S Sreesanth stated that the slapgate incident was blown out of proportion and emphasized that he shared a strong bond with Harbhajan Singh. While speaking on The Ranveer Show(as reported by NDTV), he said:
“If you look at it, it was a 30-second video or something, but media showed it as if… Yeah, yeah. Unbelievable. So I will say Bhajji pa. Even now, I address him as ‘Bhajji pa’, and he is somebody who is always… Whenever I had any important spell or something I was not doing well, I used to go and hug Bhajji pa. And somehow it is the vibration or maybe the positivity which paaji has got, I always used to get the performance out.”
“So, when that incident happened, I was shocked. I didn’t cry because of pain but because of heart. I could not take the fact that he would do it, and I was not worried about who was watching. So maybe the kid in me, as a younger brother, if an elder brother was shouting, and he had all the right because before the game, he had actually told me that don’t go overboard with your aggression against us,” he added.
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