Eighteen years after the IPL ‘slapgate’ incident, former India pacer Sreesanth criticized ex-spinner Harbhajan Singh for allegedly benefiting from the episode. Sreesanth’s remarks were triggered by a recent advertisement featuring Harbhajan instructing people to fix electronic equipment by slapping them. This advertisement led Sreesanth to express his displeasure and block Harbhajan on Instagram.
Sreesanth clarified that he had never publicly discussed Harbhajan or the incident until now. However, the advertisement’s release provoked him, especially as he claimed Harbhajan made significant earnings, around Rs 80 lakh to Rs 1 crore, from it. Despite being asked by Harbhajan to share a story about it, Sreesanth emphasized that while he could forgive, he would not forget the incident.
The former pacer emphasized the importance of forgiveness but stressed the need to remember past wrongs to prevent their recurrence. Sreesanth highlighted his severed relationship with Harbhajan, citing the recent advertisement as the breaking point that led him to block Harbhajan on Instagram. He also expressed his disappointment with Harbhajan’s actions and emphasized that he no longer considers him a brother.
Sreesanth recalled the ‘Slapgate’ incident from the 2008 IPL season involving Harbhajan, where the spinner had slapped him during a match. The incident resurfaced last year when a previously unseen clip went viral on social media, reigniting public interest. Harbhajan had previously expressed confusion over the video’s release, questioning the motives behind bringing up the incident after so many years.
