Cricket

“Many Malayalis have asked me why I didn’t hit back” - Sreesanth reveals why he didn’t slap back during Slapgate controversy involving Harbhajan Singh

Sreesanth explains why he didn't retaliate during the 2008 'Slapgate' incident with Harbhajan Singh, despite pressure from Malayali fans. He said, "If I had, I would’ve faced a lifetime ban" and his restraint was to protect the careers of future Kerala cricketers like Sanju Samson.

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Former Indian pacer Sreesanth, who attended a YouTube show, has revealed that many locals in his state have asked him why he didn’t hit back at Harbhajan Singh despite showing so much aggression on the field.

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Speaking exclusively on a YouTube show with Ranjini Haridas, the former speedster, who was known for his aggressive antics on the field, asserted that he would have faced a lifetime ban if he had retaliated after being slapped by the Turbanator, which could’ve jeopardized careers of many Kerala cricketers like Sanju Samson, Sachin Baby and Nidheesh.

“Many Malayalis have asked me why I didn’t hit back despite showing so much aggression. Some even said I should have hit him down to the ground. If I had, I would have faced a lifetime ban. Kerala didn’t have that much power back then. I was the only one playing from Kerala,” Sreesanth said on a YouTube show with Ranjini Haridas.

“Sanju (Sanju Samson) shouldn’t feel anything. Sachin Baby and Nidheesh (M. D. Nidheesh) shouldn’t feel anything. Because I didn’t hit back, a few people were spared. Don’t think I’m saying this out of superiority. That’s my reason. They’ve mentioned it in many stories. When we are powerful, we should use it to help others. My father always says, when we have power, we should help others, not show off in front of those more powerful," he added.

Delving into the details of the incident, it happened during the inaugural IPL season in 2008 in Mohali when the then Mumbai Indians (MI) captain Harbhajan Singh slapped Kings XI Punjab (KXIP) pacer Sreesanth after KXIP defeated MI.

Multiple live visuals had then shown the pacer crying on live television, which emerged as the league’s first major controversy. Interestingly, the video remained hidden for 18 years, before the IPL found Lalit Modi made it viral most recently during a podcast with the former Australian captain Michael Clarke.

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