Watch: Never seen before footage of Harbhajan–Sreesanth slapgate from IPL 2008

The inaugural edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL) got off to a rollicking start in 2008. But apart from cricket, the incident of two star Indian cricketers clashing after a match is still making headlines.

The infamous slapgate between premier Indian off-spinner Harbhajan Singh and ace Indian seamer S Sreesanth was one of the first major controversies of the season.

The incident occurred on April 25, 2008 at Mohali after Kings XI Punjab’s win against Mumbai Indians. Stand-in captain Harbhajan allegedly slapped Sreesanth during the post-match handshake. Cameras caught Sreesanth in tears following the incident, sparking nationwide outrage.

One of the wildest moments in IPL history, Unseen footage of the Bhajji–Sreesanth slapgate that never been aired#IPL pic.twitter.com/E9Ux8bodOW

— Vishal (@Fanpointofviews) August 29, 2025

According to reports at that time, Harbhajan was agitated by Sreesanth's combative on-field demeanor and a mocking "well played" comment.

The BCCI launched an inquiry, led by match referee Farokh Engineer, and Harbhajan was found guilty of misconduct. The spinner was banned for 11 IPL matches (rest of 2008 season) and was fined off his match fee for upcoming India–South Africa ODIs.

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Sreesanth later called Harbhajan an “elder brother,” downplaying the spat.

The video has former Australian captain Michael Clarke sharing his views on the incident during an interview. Clarke says, “Sreesanth was an amazing bowler, I didn’t play much against him. For Bhajji (Harbhajan), I have utmost respect because he was such a rough competitor.”

In July this year, Harbhajan opened up about the slapgate incident, saying that he wants to remove it from his career. He admitted that he was at fault and recalled a conversation he had with Sreesanth’s daughter which "left him shattered".

“My heart was shattered and I was on the verge of tears. I was asking myself what impression I’ve left on her. She must see 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, ‘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’," he said.