In a moment that has long lived in cricketing folklore, the infamous “slapgate” incident from the inaugural IPL season in 2008 has finally emerged from the shadows—this time, with video evidence. The altercation between Harbhajan Singh and Sreesanth, once the subject of speculation, memes, and whispered retellings, has now been laid bare in grainy but unmistakable footage released on Michael Clarke’s Beyond23 podcast featuring former IPL chairman Lalit Modi.
The clip, reportedly captured by a security camera after the match between Mumbai Indians and Kings XI Punjab, shows Harbhajan delivering a backhand slap to Sreesanth, whose stunned expression and the immediate intervention of teammates paint a picture of raw, unscripted tension. The footage was never part of the official broadcast and had remained locked away for nearly two decades.
While the video reignites debate—was Sreesanth provoking Harbhajan? Did the five-ODI ban suffice? Should the footage have stayed buried?—both players have long moved on. Harbhajan has publicly expressed regret multiple times, even recounting how Sreesanth’s daughter once refused to speak to him, saying, “You hit my father,” a moment that deeply affected him. Sreesanth, for his part, has often laughed off the incident and shared light-hearted moments with Harbhajan on television.
Yet, the resurfacing of this clip transforms myth into memory. It’s a reminder that cricket’s most unforgettable moments aren’t always found in scorecards or highlight reels—they’re in the messy, human flashes that linger in the collective consciousness.