After Sreesanth’s Wife’s Outburst, Lalit Modi Hits Back: "I Shared The Truth"

Former Indian Premier League (IPL) chairman Lalit Modi has defended his decision to share video evidence of the infamous 2008 ‘slapgate’ incident - when Harbhajan Singh slapped S Sreesanth - on former Australia captain Michael Clarke’s Beyond 23 Cricket Podcast. The clarification came after Sreesanth’s wife, Bhuvneshwari, lashed out on Instagram, accusing Modi and Clarke of reopening an old wound for the sake of “cheap publicity and views.”

The Harbhajan-Sreesanth altercation remains one of the ugliest controversies in IPL history. It occurred after Mumbai Indians (MI) faced the Kings XI Punjab (now Punjab Kings) in Mohali during the inaugural season. Television cameras captured a tearful Sreesanth, sparking immediate headlines the next morning. Reports soon revealed that Harbhajan, then MI’s stand-in captain, had slapped the Kerala pacer following an alleged remark. The offspinner was fined and handed an 11-match ban, ruling him out of the rest of the tournament.

Bhuvneshwari condemned the resurfacing of the episode, writing: “@sreesanthnair36 has rebuilt his life with dignity and grace after every hardship he faced. As his wife, and as the mother of his children, it is deeply painful for our family to see this resurface after 18 long years.

"Families are being forced to relive trauma that was buried decades ago only so you can chase views. This doesn’t just hurt the players, it scars their innocent children who now have to face questions and shame for no fault of theirs.

"You should be sued for doing something so cheap and inhumane. Sreesanth is a man of strength and character, and no video can take that dignity away from him. Fear God before you hurt families and innocent children for your own gain. @lalitkmodi @michaelclarkeofficial.

"Shame on you @lalitkmodi and @michaelclarkeofficial. You people are not even human to drag up something from 2008 just for your own cheap publicity and views. Both @sreesanthnair36 and Harbhajan have long moved on, they are fathers now with school-going children, and yet you try to throw them back into an old wound. Absolutely disgusting, heartless, and inhuman.”

Responding to the criticism, Modi insisted he had only spoken the truth and reiterated that Sreesanth was the victim in the incident. “I don’t know why she (Sreesanth’s wife Bhuvneshwari) is getting angry. I was asked a question, and I shared the truth. I can’t do anything about that. I am known to speak the truth. Sree was the victim, and that’s exactly what I said. No one had asked me this question earlier, so when Clarke quipped, I responded,” Modi told IANS.

Harbhajan went on to enjoy a decorated IPL career, representing MI, Chennai Super Kings (CSK), and Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR). He finished with four titles and 150 wickets at an economy rate of 7.07. Meanwhile, Sreesanth featured in 44 games, claiming 40 wickets at an average of 29.75 and an economy rate of 8.11.