The inaugural edition of the IPL in 2008 is often remembered for the peculiar controversy that occurred between Indian cricketers S Sreesanth and Harbhajan Singh, famously known as the “Slapgate” Controversy.
During the tournament, the two Indian teammates were involved in a heated altercation, which resulted in Harbhajan Singh allegedly slapping Sreesanth. This incident created a stir in the Indian cricketing fraternity, and it became a major talking point throughout the season.
The Slapgate Controversy and Aftermath
The incident occurred during a match between Sreesanth’s Kings XI Punjab and Harbhajan’s Mumbai Indians. After the game, at the usual handshake, Harbhajan reportedly slapped Sreesanth after being allegedly irritated by his comments. Sreesanth appeared to be crying on the field, and the Board of Control for Cricket in India handed Harbhajan a five-match suspension despite the incident not being recorded on camera or broadcast by the official broadcaster. The board also launched an investigation into the issue.
Harbhajan’s Regrets
Harbhajan had apologised to Sreesanth on several occasions, and he also brought up the topic again in a conversation with both Sreesanth and renowned cricket announcer Vikram Sathaye. He expressed regret for his actions and added that if he could go back in time and make one correction, it would be about how he had treated Sreesanth on the pitch. He admitted that his actions were inappropriate and that he should not have slapped his former teammate. Furthermore mentioned by Harbhajan were his embarrassment over the incident and empathy for Sreesanth’s embarrassment.
Harbhajan stated that he regrets his action on that day. “What happened was wrong. I made a mistake. Because of me, my teammate had to face embarrassment. I was embarrassed. If I had to correct one mistake, it was how I treated Sreesanth on the field. It should not have happened. When I think about it, I feel there was no need”.
Sreesanth’s Take
On the other side, Sreesanth described the incident while he was a participant on the popular TV programme “Bigg Boss.” He stated that as a result of the team’s bad performance, the Mumbai Indians were under pressure that season, and Harbhajan was feeling the heat. Sreesanth confessed that he got along well with Harbhajan and had often irritated him throughout the match. He explained that it was common procedure for opponents to say things to make the opposition uncomfortable. When the two faced off after the match, Harbhajan struck Sreesanth in the face with the back of his fist. Sreesanth cried inconsolably since he had not expected his friend to act in this way.
Sreesanth claimed that he and Harbhajan had always been friends and that the incident was a misinterpretation that the media had overblown. He expressed his gratitude to Harbhajan for helping him all along the way, beginning with his time as a domestic player.
“We have always been friends. That was just a misunderstanding and the media made a big noise out of it. I will just say that Bhajji pa has supported me from the beginning in every way, including recently with commentary tips. He has supported me and helped me a lot and I am very thankful to him. There is that song, ‘Tere jaisa yaar kaha’, that is my relationship with him,” said Sreesanth on Sports Yaari.
Sreesanth and Harbhajan Retirement:
Sreesanth and Harbhajan shared the Indian dressing room for several years and went on to become part of India’s 2011 ODI World Cup-winning team under MS Dhoni.
In December 2021, Harbhajan announced his retirement from all forms of cricket after taking 269 ODI and 417 Test wickets.
Sreesanth resigned from cricket in March 2023 after a career that included 27 Tests, 53 ODIs, and 10 T20 Internationals. Over his career, he recorded 169 wickets in total.
Overall, the “Slapgate” incident left a lasting impression on cricket fans across the world and serves as a reminder of the game’s need for sportsmanship and discipline. The incident does, however, also focus on the importance of forgiving others and the ability to move past regrettable past actions. Sreesanth and Harbhajan both expressed regret for the incident and have since moved on, remaining friends even after retirement.
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