The incident took place during the first IPL season in Mohali when Harbhajan, the then Mumbai Indians captain, slapped Sreesanth after Kings XI defeated Punjab MI. Sreesanth was seen crying live on television, and the issue quickly became the league’s first major controversy. Although the clash was widely reported, the video footage remained hidden for eighteen years, archived by the BCCI and broadcasters.
The controversy resurfaced earlier this year after former IPL chairman Lalit Modi released the unseen clip on Michael Clarke’s Beyond 23 podcast, sparking reactions from fans and concerned families, including Sreesanth’s wife and Harbhajan himself. Addressing long-standing questions on why he did not respond, Sreesanth said Malayali fans in particular had criticized his silence.
“Many Malayalis have asked me why I didn’t hit back despite so much aggression. Some even said I should have knocked him to the ground. If I had done that, I would have been banned for life. Kerala didn’t have that much power then. I was the only one playing from Kerala,” he said on a YouTube show with Ranjini Haridas.
The former pacer added that retaliatory measures would have jeopardized the careers of future Kerala cricketers who aspired to play for India.
“Sanju (Sanju Samson) should not feel anything. Sachin Baby and Nidheesh (MD Nidheesh) should not feel anything. Because I did not retaliate, a few people were spared. Don’t think I am saying this out of superiority. That is my reason. They have mentioned it in many stories. If we are powerful, we should use it to help others. My father always says, if we have power, we should help others and not show off in front of others. more powerful,” he added.
The resurfaced video showed Harbhajan calling Sreesanth before hitting him. Senior players, including Mahela Jayawardene and Irfan Pathan, quickly intervened and prevented the situation from escalating.
Sreesanth’s wife Bhuvaneshwari expressed her dismay over the video that was circulated after almost two decades. She stated that the video revives old wounds and subjects their children to unfair scrutiny. She also demanded legal action against both Harbhajan and Lalit Modi. Harbhajan, who was banned for 11 matches in 2008, has apologized repeatedly over the years. Reacting to the leaked clip, he criticized Modi for “selfish motives” and said the incident should have been left in the past.
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