“You Hit My Father”: Harbhajan Recalls Emotional Moment with Sreesanth’s Daughter

Harbhajan Recalls Emotional Moment with Sreesanth’s Daughter: “You Hit My Father.”

Former India spinner Harbhajan Singh has opened up about the infamous 2008 “slapgate” incident involving Sreesanth, revealing how the episode continues to haunt him—even years later—through a painful exchange with Sreesanth’s daughter.

Speaking on the podcast Kutti Stories with Ash, Harbhajan reflected on the aftermath of the altercation, which took place during the inaugural IPL season after a match between Mumbai Indians and Kings XI Punjab in Mohali. The incident, which saw Harbhajan slap Sreesanth on the field, drew widespread condemnation and led to a suspension for the rest of the season.

“One thing I’d want to erase from my career is that incident with Sreesanth,” Harbhajan said. “What transpired was wrong, and I shouldn’t have done it. I apologised more than 200 times. Even now, every time the topic comes up, I say sorry. It was a mistake I deeply regret.”

What shook Harbhajan the most, however, was an encounter years later with Sreesanth’s young daughter. Recounting the moment, he said:

“I was speaking to her with a lot of affection, but she looked at me and said, ‘I don’t want to talk to you. You hit my father.’ That shattered me. I was on the verge of tears. I kept thinking, is this the impression I’ve left behind? To her, I’m the man who hit her dad. I still feel awful about it.”

Despite the painful memory, Harbhajan noted that both he and Sreesanth have long since moved on from the controversy. The two played together in the Indian team post-2008, including as part of the 2011 World Cup-winning squad, and have maintained cordial relations since retirement—often appearing together in veteran cricket leagues.