Former Indian cricketer Harbhajan Singh recently opened up about one of the darkest chapters of his cricketing career — the infamous slap incident with S. Sreesanth during the inaugural season of the IPL in 2008. Speaking on Ravichandran Ashwin's YouTube podcast, Harbhajan shared how deeply he regrets the incident and how its emotional impact still lingers, even after all these years.

What Happened in 2008?

The incident took place after a league match between Mumbai Indians (Harbhajan's team) and Kings XI Punjab (Sreesanth’s team). Emotions ran high, and in a shocking moment, Harbhajan slapped Sreesanth on the field. The footage of a teary-eyed Sreesanth went viral, and the incident sparked major controversy.

As a consequence:

• BCCI banned Harbhajan from the rest of the IPL season.

• The act was condemned widely, and Harbhajan faced immense public scrutiny.

“I Apologized 200 Times”

Harbhajan told Ashwin, “If there's one thing I could erase from my career, it would be that incident.” He revealed that he has apologized to Sreesanth over 200 times, on different platforms and occasions. Yet, the incident continues to pain him personally.

Sreesanth’s Daughter Refuses to Forgive

Adding to Harbhajan’s remorse, he recalled a painful moment when he tried to speak to Sreesanth’s daughter. “I was lovingly trying to talk to her,” Bhajji said, “but she replied — ‘You hit my father, I will not talk to you.’”

This reaction struck Harbhajan deeply, reminding him how some wounds, even after apologies, remain etched in memories across generations.

A Lesson in Emotional Control

While Harbhajan and Sreesanth have since made peace publicly, the 2008 "Slapgate" remains a cautionary tale in cricketing history about the importance of emotional discipline on the field. It also shows how personal missteps can leave lasting impressions—not just on careers, but on relationships.