September 1, 2025

A blast from the past has shaken cricket fans! Former India spinner Harbhajan Singh, famously called the Turbanator, finally broke his silence about the viral slapgate video that Lalit Modi, ex-IPL commissioner, recently made public. Last week, Modi stunned everyone during a chat on Michael Clarke's podcast ‘Beyond 23’ by showing the shocking video of Harbhajan slapping pacer S Sreesanth just after the 2008 IPL match between Mumbai Indians and Kings XI Punjab. Back in 2008, fans never saw the real footage. Broadcasters quickly cut to ads after the clash, only showing Sreesanth in tears later, comforted by teammates like Irfan Pathan and Mahela Jayawardene. But now, Modi revealed the full fight – Harbhajan giving Sreesanth a backhand slap as players lined up to shake hands. Sreesanth then charged at Harbhajan, sparking a tense brawl before other players stepped in to calm things down. At the recent Ganesh Chaturthi celebrations, Harbhajan opened up to Instant Bollywood. He said, “The way the video has been leaked, it's wrong. It shouldn't have happened. They might have a selfish motive behind it. Something that happened 18 years ago, people have forgotten, and they are reminding people about it.” Clearly upset, Harbhajan added, “I feel bad for whatever happened. We were playing, and everyone had things going on in their mind. Mistakes happened, and we do feel ashamed about it.” He didn’t shy away from apologizing once again, calling the incident “unfortunate.” “Yes, the video has gone viral. It was an unfortunate incident, and I have said on many occasions that I made a mistake. Humans make mistakes, and I did one too. I have requested Lord Ganesh to forgive me if I make a mistake again. Mistakes happen,” he said with humility. Earlier, during a podcast hosted by Ravichandran Ashwin, Harbhajan had also apologized and said if he could turn back time, he would never slap Sreesanth. Interestingly, now both players share a good relationship, putting the past behind. That 2008 slapgate incident had big consequences then. The BCCI and IPL's committee banned Harbhajan for 11 matches and took away his fees because he broke the code of conduct. The episode has revived debates among fans about cricket rivalries and respect on the field. Will Lalit Modi’s stunt ignite fresh drama, or will peace prevail? For now, Harbhajan’s message is clear: "Let the past rest quietly!"

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Tags: Harbhajan singh, Lalit modi, Sreesanth, Ipl 2008, Slapgate, Cricket controversy,