Seventeen years after one of the most infamous moments in IPL history, the “slapgate” controversy is back in the spotlight. This time not because of players, but due to a decision by former IPL chairman Lalit Modi and ex-Australia captain Michael Clarke. On their Beyond23 Cricket Podcast, the duo aired previously unseen footage of Harbhajan Singh slapping S Sreesanth after a Mumbai Indians vs Kings XI Punjab match in 2008.
The incident, which had left Sreesanth in tears on the field, resulted in Harbhajan being banned for the rest of the season. Over time, both players reconciled, often revealing that the matter was buried. Sreesanth himself has publicly said that Harbhajan apologised multiple times, and the two have moved forward in their personal lives and careers.
Sreesanth’s wife take on slapgate video
But the resurfacing of the video hasn’t sit well with Sreesanth’s wife, Bhuvneshwari Sreesanth, who took to Instagram to condemn Modi and Clarke for reopening old wounds. “Shame on you @lalitkmodi and @michaelclarkeofficial. You people are not even human to drag up something from 2008 just for your own cheap publicity and views. Both @sreesanthnair36 and Harbhajan have long moved on, they are fathers now with school-going children, and yet you try to throw them back into an old wound. Absolutely disgusting, heartless, and inhuman,” she wrote.
In a follow-up post, she expressed how the video’s release impacts their family. “@sreesanthnair36 has rebuilt his life with dignity and grace after every hardship he faced. 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. Families are being forced to relive trauma that was buried decades ago only so you can chase views. This doesn’t just hurt the players, it scars their innocent children who now have to face questions and shame for no fault of theirs.”
She added a harsh rebuke, “You should be sued for doing something so cheap and inhumane. Sreesanth is a man of strength and character, and no video can take that dignity away from him. Fear God before you hurt families and innocent children for your own gain.”
Recently, speaking on a podcast with Padmajeet Sehrawat, Sreesanth revealed that his daughter once refused to even greet Harbhajan when they met years later.
