Sreesanth revisits ‘slapgate’, says ties with Harbhajan are over
S. Sreesanth has reopened one of the Indian Premier League’s most discussed incidents, stating he no longer has any relationship with Harbhajan Singh. Speaking to a Malayalam outlet, Sreesanth said he has blocked his former teammate on Instagram and described the bond as broken.
The incident dates back to 2008, when Harbhajan, then with Mumbai Indians, slapped Sreesanth of Punjab Kings after a match. The episode, later labelled “slapgate”, led to Harbhajan’s suspension for the remainder of the season. Sreesanth was seen in tears on the field, and the fallout lingered long after.
Ad claim raises fresh questions
Sreesanth now alleges that Harbhajan profited from the controversy through a recent advertisement. He claimed the former India off-spinner earned between ₹80 lakh and ₹1 crore from it. He also said Harbhajan asked him to promote the advert on social media, which he declined.
Why revisit a settled issue now? And does monetising a past controversy cross a line, especially when it involves former teammates? These are questions the remarks bring back into focus.
Sreesanth added that while he believes in forgiveness, he does not forget. His comments suggest the issue, despite periods of public reconciliation, was never fully resolved.
Past reconciliation, present breakdown
The two were part of India’s title-winning squads in the 2007 ICC World Twenty20 and the 2011 ICC Cricket World Cup. There had been attempts to move on, including joint appearances and public statements indicating normalcy.
However, Sreesanth’s latest remarks point to a fresh breakdown. He said there had been no issues until recently, before the advertisement brought the past back into focus.
Neither Harbhajan Singh nor his representatives have responded publicly to the claims so far. He is currently part of the commentary panel on Disney+ Hotstar and has yet to address the remarks.