Harbhajan Singh Reflects on IPL 2008 ‘Slapgate’: "Sreesanth’s Daughter Said, 'You Hit My Father'"

Veteran Indian off-spinner Harbhajan Singh recently appeared on fellow cricketer R Ashwin’s popular YouTube podcast, where he shared candid insights into his life and cricketing journey. From his early days in domestic cricket to retirement, Harbhajan opened up about several memorable and regrettable moments from his career. One of the most painful incidents he discussed was the infamous altercation with S Sreesanth during the inaugural edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL) in 2008.

THE 2008 IPL SLAP INCIDENT

The controversial moment occurred after a league match between Mumbai Indians (MI) and Kings XI Punjab (now Punjab Kings). Harbhajan, who was representing MI, slapped pacer S Sreesanth, who was playing for the opposition. The incident sparked widespread outrage and led to Harbhajan being suspended by the BCCI for the remainder of the tournament.

Looking back, Harbhajan expressed deep regret for his actions.

“One thing I could erase from my life, it would be that incident with Sreesanth. What happened that day was wrong. I shouldn’t have behaved the way I did. I’ve apologised more than 200 times since then,” he told Ashwin.

"IT WAS MY MISTAKE" – HARBHAJAN TAKES FULL RESPONSIBILITY

While Harbhajan acknowledged that there may have been provocation involved, he was clear that the responsibility for his actions rested solely with him.

“He may have said something in the heat of the moment, but the reaction that followed was entirely my fault. It should never have come to that. We were teammates, even if we were on opposing sides that day. I’ve always admitted that it was a mistake and a big one,” he admitted.

AN ENCOUNTER THAT LEFT HIM HEARTBROKEN

One of the most emotional parts of Harbhajan's revelation was a story involving Sreesanth's daughter. Years after the incident, when Harbhajan met her, the young girl’s innocent words left a lasting impression.

“I was talking to her with affection, and she suddenly said, ‘I don’t want to talk to you. You hit my father.’ That broke me. I was shattered and on the verge of tears. I kept asking myself—what kind of impression have I left on her?”

The moment deeply affected him, and he continues to feel remorse.

“Even now, I want to say sorry to her. I tell her, ‘If there’s anything I can do to change how you feel, please tell me.’ I want her to grow up and see that I’m not the person she thinks I am. I want her to know her uncle is always there for her and will support her in any way possible.”

A CHAPTER HE WISHES HE COULD REWRITE

Closing the chapter with humility, Harbhajan stressed how the incident remains a source of personal pain.

“I wish I could erase that day from my life. It’s something I’ll always regret. But we all make mistakes—what matters is that we learn from them and strive not to repeat them.”