“Yes, you made a mistake” - Ravi Ashwin opens up on release of IPL 2008 slapgate footage

Former Indian cricketer and analyst Ravi Ashwin has opened up on IPL founder and former chairman Lalit Modi, recently unveiling the IPL 2008 slapgate incident’s video footage, involving Harbhajan Singh and Sreesanth.

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Speaking on his YouTube channel, Ashwin stated it’s certainly not a proud moment for the former cricketers. He further also mentioned Harbhajan coming to his podcast and regretting the episode for the rest of his life.

“It is the head of the anaconda that keeps on rising. In the modern day and age, footage and videos are everywhere. I just feel it is not a proud moment for both of them. I don’t wish to address too much about it. The incident is over. Everyone knows about it. Harbhajan came to our podcast and spoke about how he felt. Yes, you made a mistake, and you need to live with it for the rest of your life,” Ashwin said on his YouTube channel.

Furthermore, Ashwin also asserted that both cricketers have moved on from that particular episode, and he doesn’t wish to accuse anyone, adding that the less we speak about the incident, it’s the better.

"But you need to move on, too. Some folks may have done something like this at home and so the outside world would not know about it. I don’t wish to accuse anyone. The less we speak about it, the better. Anyone who makes a mistake, when they get a chance to move on, they take that chance,” he added.

Earlier in July 2025, Ashwin appeared on Ravi Ashwin’s ‘Kutti Stories with Ash’ podcast, revealing that he would love to remove the slapgate incident from his career. He also felt that he shouldn’t have done what he did.

“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. What I felt so bad was even years after that incident, I have been apologising every opportunity or stage I get. It was a mistake,” Bhajji had said on the podcast.

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