'Don't talk to me, you hit my father': Harbhajan reveals feeling 'shattered' after meeting Sreesanth's daughter

Harbhajan Singh revisits IPL's biggest controversy involving him and Sreesanth (Photo: X)

Harbhajan Singh was a notorious character, considering the number of controveries he was part of during his illustrious cricket journey. The "Turbantor" undoubtedly was a remarkable spinner but often landed in trouble due to his on-field conduct. Out of many controversies, one that the spinner wants to erase from his career is the incident involving former India pacer S Sreesanth.

The incident took place in 2008, the inaugural edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL). Then while representing Mumbai Indians (MI) Harbhajan lost his cool at Sreesanth and slapped the pacer, who then played for Kings XI Punjab (now Punjab Kings). This took place after the match and left Sreesanth with tears. It still remains as one of the biggest controversies in the cash-rich tournament.

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Harbhajan joined Ravichandran Ashwin for a chat on his YouTube podcast, where the former opened up about the incident. “One thing I’d want to change in my life is that incident with Sreesanth. I want to remove that incident from my career. That is the incident I would change from my list. What transpired was wrong and I shouldn’t have done what I did. I apologised 200 times."

“What I felt so bad was even years after that incident, I have been apologising every opportunity or stage I get. It was a mistake. We all make mistakes and we hope and try to never repeat such mistakes. He was my teammate and we were playing together. Yes, in that game we were opponents. But it shouldn’t have gone to that level where we behave in such a manner. So yeah, that was my fault and the only fault of his was that he provoked me, but that’s okay actually. However, what I did was not okay. I said, ‘Sorry’.”

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Harbhajan then revealed an encounter with Sreesanth's daughter, which left the spinner shattered and emotional.

“What hurt me even after many years was when I met his daughter and I was talking to her with a lot of love and she said, ‘I don’t want to talk to you. You hit my father.’ My heart was shattered and I was on the verge of tears. I was asking myself what is the impression I’ve left on her? She must be thinking of me in a poor light, right? She sees me as the guy who hit her father. I felt so bad. I still apologise to his daughter that I can’t do anything."

“I keep telling her, ‘but if there’s anything I can do to make you feel better and make you think I’m not that kind of person, please tell me’. I wish when she grows up, she doesn’t see me in the same light. And think her uncle will always be with her and extend any kind of support he can. That’s why I want to remove that chapter,” he said.