Sreesanth Claims Harbhajan Singh Made Rs 1 Crore From IPL Slapgate
Sreesanth claims Harbhajan Singh earned from IPL Slapgate incident
Former Indian cricketer S Sreesanth has reignited the infamous 2008 IPL "Slapgate" controversy, alleging Harbhajan Singh earned nearly Rs 1 crore from a recent advertisement centred on the incident. In an explosive interview with Mathrubhumi, Sreesanth claimed Harbhajan approached him to promote the ad on Instagram, a request he rejected outright. The former pacer revealed he subsequently blocked Harbhajan on social media, declaring their brotherhood severed.
The original scandal unfolded during IPL's inaugural season when Mumbai Indians captain Harbhajan slapped Kings XI Punjab's Sreesanth after a match, leading to an 11-match ban for the off-spinner. Video evidence showed Harbhajan shaking hands with opponents before striking Sreesanth, prompting widespread condemnation. Sreesanth broke down on camera, amplifying the episode's notoriety.
Sreesanth expressed bitterness over Harbhajan's perceived commercialization of their shared history, contrasting it with recent reconciliation gestures. "I never spoke about Bhajji in interviews—this is the first time," he stated, accusing Harbhajan of insincere brotherhood. The ad's emergence, following IPL founder Lalit Modi's release of unseen footage last year, reopened old wounds.
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This public fallout underscores lingering resentments from IPL's formative controversies, where personal clashes intersected with league growing pains. Both players had appeared to move past the incident through public amity, now shattered by monetary allegations. Cricket circles buzz with reactions to Sreesanth's unfiltered outburst.
The episode revives debates on accountability for past misconducts versus modern monetization in sports narratives. Neither Harbhajan nor his representatives have responded publicly yet. Sreesanth's block signals definitive estrangement from the man he once called brother.
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