'Shame on You…': Sreesanth's Wife Slams Lalit Modi and Michael Clarke Over Viral Slapgate Video

Seventeen years after one of the most controversial moments in IPL history, the infamous ‘slapgate’ incident between Harbhajan Singh and Sreesanth has resurfaced, sparking fresh outrage. The unseen video of the 2008 clash, in which Harbhajan slapped his junior teammate Sreesanth after a match between Mumbai Indians and Kings XI Punjab, has now been made public by former IPL commissioner Lalit Modi. While the incident had created a storm back then, the actual footage was never released — until now.

The video, revealed on Michael Clarke’s podcast, shows the heated moment when Harbhajan, playing for Mumbai, struck Sreesanth during the post-match handshake after Punjab defeated Mumbai. At the time, images of a teary-eyed Sreesanth had made headlines, but no one had seen the actual footage. Modi claimed that though broadcast cameras were switched off, a security camera captured the incident, and he kept the clip hidden for years before finally releasing it.

The release of this video has reignited old wounds, drawing sharp criticism from Sreesanth’s wife, Bhuvaneshwari. Taking to Instagram, she blasted Modi and Clarke, calling their act “cheap, heartless and inhuman.” In her words, “Shame on you Lalit Modi and Michael Clarke. You are bringing up events of 2008 for cheap publicity and views. Both Sreesanth and Harbhajan have moved on in life, they are fathers now, yet you are reviving their old wounds. Absolutely disgusting.”

She further expressed that the resurfacing of this footage was deeply traumatic for families, who had long moved past the incident. Strongly supporting her husband, Bhuvaneshwari even hinted at legal action, suggesting Modi and Clarke should be sued for publicizing the video.

Despite the controversy, Harbhajan and Sreesanth eventually reconciled, going on to play together for India, including in the 2011 World Cup-winning squad. They have also appeared together in shows and advertisements, symbolizing closure to a bitter chapter. However, the release of this long-buried video has reopened a debate that refuses to die down.