Sreesanth Reopens Old Wounds of IPL Slapgate Scandal, Challenges Harbhajan Singh to Bare Knuckle Fight

Nearly two decades after one of Indian cricket's most infamous controversies, former India pacer S Sreesanth has reignited his feud with Harbhajan Singh by issuing an open challenge to the former spinner for a fight inside the ring.

Speaking during an appearance on Lallantop, the 43-year-old Kerala cricketer launched a fiery attack on his former India teammate, accusing Harbhajan of continuing to profit from the infamous 2008 IPL 'Slapgate' incident and daring him to settle their differences through combat rather than advertisements.

'Do You Have the Guts to Come Into the Ring?'

Referring to a promotional image that showed the pair wearing boxing gloves, Sreesanth challenged Harbhajan to turn the publicity stunt into reality.

"Do you have the guts to come into the ring with me? Can you sign and come?" Sreesanth said. "You are wearing the same gloves. This is not acting. I am smiling. You are not even smiling. I don't know what you are doing. Let's see. It's an open challenge."

The former fast bowler then doubled down on the challenge, revealing his association with the Bare Knuckle Fight League. "I am in the Bare Knuckle Fight League. I challenge you, Bhajji. If you have so many problems with the slap thing and you earn so much, let us also earn. Come to the ring. I am telling you from the bottom of my heart."

Invoking a popular dialogue delivery style associated with Tamil superstar Vijay, Sreesanth signed off the challenge with a dramatic message. "Please come. Waiting."

Sreesanth Says Old Wounds Have Reopened

The former India pacer claimed he had largely avoided speaking publicly about Harbhajan and the 2008 controversy until recently.

According to Sreesanth, a recent advertisement featuring Harbhajan and referencing the infamous slap incident reopened old wounds. "I have never spoken about Bhajji in any interview. This is going to be the first time," Sreesanth had earlier told Mathrubhumi.

"Until recently there were no problems, but he made an ad about it once again. He made around Rs 80 lakh to Rs 1 crore off it."

The Kerala-born cricketer suggested the commercial crossed a line and led him to sever ties with Harbhajan. "If someone wrongs you, you should forgive them but never forget. If you forget, they will do the same thing again. He is the biggest example for that."

"I have no relationship with that person. I used to call him a brother. But after that ad, I blocked him on Instagram."

The Shadow of IPL's 'Slapgate'

The comments have brought renewed attention to one of the most controversial incidents in IPL history.

The infamous episode occurred during the inaugural IPL season in 2008 after a match between Mumbai Indians and Kings XI Punjab. Television cameras captured an emotional Sreesanth in tears after Harbhajan allegedly slapped him following an on-field altercation.

The fallout was immediate. Harbhajan was suspended for the remainder of the tournament and later apologised publicly for his actions. Even during his commentary stints in IPL, Harbhajan apologised to Sreesanth.

Over the years, both former India players appeared to have moved on, sharing television studios and public platforms without any visible hostility. Their relationship seemed cordial, with many believing the matter had long been buried.

Sreesanth's latest remarks, however, suggest that the incident continues to affect him deeply.

Could Harbhajan Respond?

As of now, Harbhajan Singh has not responded publicly to Sreesanth's challenge. Whether the challenge is a genuine invitation or an expression of lingering frustration, it has once again thrust one of Indian cricket's most talked-about rivalries back into the spotlight.

For cricket fans, the comments are a reminder that while the IPL's infamous 'Slapgate' incident may be 18 years old, the emotions surrounding it appear far from settled.