Sreesanth reopened the IPL ‘slapgate’ row, alleging Harbhajan Singh monetised the incident and damaged their relationship again.
The long-standing ‘slapgate’ controversy between S. Sreesanth and Harbhajan Singh has once again come into the spotlight during the ongoing Indian Premier League (IPL). The incident, which occurred during the inaugural 2008 season, had seen Harbhajan slap Sreesanth in a post-match altercation, leading to a suspension and widespread debate.
Although both players had previously suggested that they had moved on from the episode, Sreesanth’s recent comments indicate that tensions have resurfaced.
Advertisement controversy sparks fresh rift
Sreesanth has now alleged that Harbhajan revisited the controversial moment through a television advertisement, portraying it in a humorous manner. According to him, this decision crossed personal boundaries and reignited past wounds.
He further claimed that Harbhajan earned a significant sum from the campaign and even requested him to promote it, which he found inappropriate.
“I have never spoken about Bhajji in any interview. This is going to be the first time. Until recently there were no problems, but he made an ad about it once again. He made around Rs 80 lakh to Rs 1 crore off it. He then called me and asked me to put a story on it. I told him, ‘I’ll forgive but I’ll never forget’. If someone wrongs you, you should forgive them but never forget. If you forget, they will do the same thing again. He is the biggest example for that. There is no doubt about that,” said Sreesanth to Mathrubhumi.
Relationship deteriorates despite past reconciliation
The Kerala pacer also revealed that the incident has once again affected his relationship with Harbhajan, despite years of apparent reconciliation. He expressed disappointment over what he described as a lack of authenticity in Harbhajan’s actions.
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“I have no relationship with that person. I used to call him a brother. But in that last 1 or 2 months he did that ad and now I have blocked him on Instagram. My parents have taught me to forgive but never forget. I don’t have any complaints against him, nor do I need him. May God bless him and his family. In many interviews, even with Ashwin, he talked about my daughter. People will think oh what a great person he is. He might be a great person. But for me from my time playing for India to now, in my opinion, it’s all an act. That act is something Sreesanth doesn’t accept,” said Sreesanth.
Sreesanth’s remarks suggest that the issue now goes beyond the original altercation, focusing instead on trust and personal respect, thereby reopening one of the IPL’s most debated controversies.
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