Former Indian spinner Harbhajan Singh has strongly criticized Lalit Modi, the former chairman and commissioner of the Indian Premier League (IPL), for recently releasing a video clip of the infamous `slapgate` incident from 2008 involving Harbhajan and pacer S. Sreesanth. Harbhajan suggested Modi “must have been under the influence” when he decided to share the footage. The incident, originally from IPL 2008, was posted by Modi on August 29 during an interview with former Australian captain Michael Clarke on the Beyond23 Cricket Podcast.
Harbhajan expressed his confusion regarding the public release of the video, stating:
“I didn`t understand why there was a need to make it public. Everyone thinks differently. Whatever happened was wrong, and I have already apologised for it. What happened between me and Sreesanth at that time was not right. As a sportsman, I don`t think I should have done that. People learn from their mistakes, and if I had enough understanding back then, I wouldn`t have done it.”
He reiterated his apology for the incident and reflected on personal growth since then.
The viral video, shared by Modi, depicts Harbhajan Singh, then captaining the Mumbai Indians, striking Sreesanth with a backhanded slap under the eye during a post-match handshake. The act provoked an angry response from Sreesanth, who immediately moved towards Harbhajan, prompting a similar reaction from the spinner. A full-blown physical altercation was narrowly averted thanks to the swift intervention of Irfan Pathan and Mahela Jayawardene, who separated the two players.
This shocking event garnered widespread media attention and criticism of Harbhajan`s conduct, for which he later apologized. The incident led to a disciplinary hearing, resulting in Harbhajan being banned for the remainder of that IPL season. Furthermore, the BCCI imposed a separate five-ODI ban on the spinner for his actions against Sreesanth.
The veteran off-spinner emphasized that, if he were in Modi`s position, he would have ensured such sensitive footage was never made public. He reiterated his bewilderment about the motive behind bringing up an 18-year-old incident again.
“I feel it would have been better if it hadn`t come out because there was no need for it. I don`t know what they were thinking when they released the video—maybe they were under the influence or just messing around. If I were in their place, I wouldn`t have let any such video come out like that.”
Harbhajan concluded by questioning Modi`s judgment and speculating on possible carelessness or intoxication behind the decision to release the video.
