'You hit my father...'- Harbhajan Singh recalls IPL's 'slap' incident with Sreesanth

During a recent podcast episode with Ravichandran Ashwin, the former Indian off-spin all-rounder, Harbhajan Singh, recalled the incident when he slapped S Sreesanth during a fixture in the Indian Premier League. The Punjab-born was honest and straightforward in the conversation on a variety of topics, but got a little emotional, looking back at the controversial altercation with the former pacer in 2008.

During the inaugural edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL), Harbhajan, who was representing the Mumbai Indians (MI), slapped Sreesanth, who was featuring for the Kings XI Punjab at the end of the league clash. In reaction, the BCCI suspended the veteran spinner for the remainder of the tournament. Singh revealed that it would be an incident he would look to forget in the future.

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‘One thing I’d want to change in my life is that incident with Sreesanth. I want to remove that incident from my career. That is the incident I would change from my list. What transpired was wrong, and I shouldn’t have done what I did. I apologised 200 times.’ Harbhajan Singh expressed during his podcast with the Tamil Nadu spinner, Ravichandran Ashwin.

Harbhajan Singh recalls his slap incident during IPL 2008 with S Sreesanth

‘What I felt so bad was even years after that incident, I have been apologizing every opportunity or stage I get. It was a mistake. We all make mistakes, and we hope and try to never repeat such mistakes. He was my teammate and we were playing together.’ Harbhajan shared the incident before remembering his meeting with Sreesanth’s daughter, who refused to talk to him.

‘What hurt me even after many years was when I met his daughter, and I was talking to her with a lot of love, and she said, ‘I don’t want to talk to you. You hit my father.’ My heart was shattered, and I was on the verge of tears. I was asking myself what impression I’ve left on her? She must be thinking of me in a poor light, right?’ He revealed.

‘I wish when she grows up, she doesn’t see me in the same light. And think her uncle will always be with her and extend any kind of support he can. That’s why I want to remove that chapter.’ The veteran spinner added.