"Shouldn't have done this": Former Indian spinner Harbhajan Singh regrets slapping Sreesanth during IPL 2008

Former Indian spinner Harbhajan Singh has officially issued an apology to his e-teammate, S Sreesanth, for the infamous Slapgate incident that took place during the inaugural season of the Indian Premier League in 2008. Harbhajan, who initially was part of the Mumbai Indians (MI), acknowledged his mistake after an X (formerly Twitter) user shared a clip of the incident and tagged the cricketer in it.

The controversial incident took place during a match between the Mumbai Indians and Punjab Kings (then Kings XI Punjab) in Mohali. Harbhajan, who was leading the MI team, had a heated exchange with S. Sreesanth, who was playing for Punjab. Following the match, there were visuals of Sreesanth in tears after the on-field confrontation between him and Harbhajan. There were reports that Sreesanth made some provocative comments that Harbhajan didn't like.

Further, after the investigation, it was revealed that Harbhajan had slapped Sreesanth, which left the fast bowler in distress. Harbhajan faced consequences for the unprofessional conduct in the form of an 11-match ban by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI).

Harbhajan issues apology to Sreesanth after 17 years

It's been seventeen years, and Harbhajan Singh has expressed regret for his past actions. The former player responded to a post on X who tagged him in a clip related to the incident. Harbhajan issued an apology saying, “This wasn’t right bhai. It was my mistake. Shouldn’t have done this. But Galti hui, insaan hu, Bhagwaan nahi” (I made a mistake, I am human, not God).

Harbhajan’s admission was met with mixed reactions from fans, with some appreciating his honesty while others revisited the controversy. The incident remains one of the most talked-about moments in IPL history, underscoring the intense emotions and rivalries that define the tournament.