Former Indian cricketer Harbhajan Singh has publicly apologized for slapping his ex-teammate Sreesanth during the inaugural season of the Indian Premier League (IPL) in 2008. The incident took place in Mohali after a match between Kings XI Punjab (now Punjab Kings) and Mumbai Indians (MI).
Harbhajan recently addressed the matter after a fan posted an old video of Sreesanth in tears following the controversial event. The 44-year-old admitted his mistake and emphasized that he, too, is human and capable of making errors.
Responding to the video on social media platform X, Harbhajan wrote:
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“This wasn’t right bhai It was my mistake . Shouldn’t hv done this . But Galti hui Insaan hu Bhagwaan nahi.”
Harbhajan Singh Faced a Ban After the Incident
Following the slap incident, Harbhajan Singh was banned for the remainder of IPL 2008. The event remains one of the most talked-about controversies in the history of the tournament. Despite the passage of time, fans continue to remember the moment as a dramatic chapter in the league’s early years.
Sreesanth’s Reaction: “I Didn’t Cry Because of Pain”
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Sreesanth has also spoken about the incident in the past. He once revealed that he did not cry because of physical pain but because he felt emotionally hurt. The fast bowler shared that he had always respected Harbhajan and was deeply shocked by what happened.
Speaking on ‘The Ranveer Show,’ Sreesanth recalled:
“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.”
He further explained that Harbhajan had advised him to control his aggression before the match.
“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.
Moving Past the Controversy
Despite the unfortunate incident, both cricketers have moved on over the years. Harbhajan Singh and Sreesanth were part of India’s historic 2011 World Cup-winning squad and have since maintained a cordial relationship. Letting bygones be bygones, they have shown that past mistakes do not define long-term friendships in sports.
Also Read: RR vs CSK, IPL 2025: Playing XI And Impact Players Of Both The Teams
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