S Sreesanth and Harbhajan Singh (Source:X)
Controversies are part and parcel of any sport, and over the years several controversies have also taken place in the Indian Cricket. One such infamous IPL 'slapgate' controversy, still fresh and among the most talked about, involved Harbhajan Singh and S Sreesanth slapgate.
Now once again, former India fast bowler S Sreesanth has reignited his long-standing feud with Harbhajan Singh by issuing an open challenge to the former spinner for a boxing-style fight.
What Happened Between Harbhajan Singh and S Sreesanth?
The controversy is from the inaugural season of the IPL 2008. After a match between Kings XI Punjab (now PBKS) and Mumbai Indians in Mohali, tensions boiled over during the post-match handshake.
MI, led by then stand-in captain Harbhajan Singh, had suffered a heavy defeat. Reports at the time suggested that an animated exchange took place between Harbhajan and Sreesanth after the game.
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Moments later, Harbhajan slapped S Sreesanth, although television cameras did not capture the actual strike. But later visuals showed Sreesanth emotional and in tears, as teammates tried to console him.
The incident became one of the biggest controversies in IPL history and quickly earned the nickname 'slapgate.'
Watch the Harbhajan Singh-Sreesanth slapgate video:
Sreesanth’s Open Challenge To Harbhajan
In a recent interaction at a Lallantop show, Sreesanth directly addressed Harbhajan and challenged him to step into a boxing ring.
"This same scene, do you have the guts? Do you have the guts to come into the ring with me? Can you sign and come? Can you? I am asking him. Do you have the guts to come into the ring with me? Wearing this 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. This is an open challenge," Sreesanth said while referring to the old photograph.
He further claimed that he was prepared for a genuine contest and invited Harbhajan to accept the challenge publicly.
He also added - "I am currently in the Bear Knuckle Fight League, and I am also one of the main sponsors of Conor McGregor's video; one of my good friends sponsored it, so the promotion is also done. I am challenging you, Bhajji (Harbhajan Singh)".
Watch the video below:
S Sreesanth Targets Advertisement Controversy
Another major reason behind Sreesanth's latest outburst appears to be a recent advertisement featuring Harbhajan Singh. According to Sreesanth, the commercial indirectly referenced the slapgate controversy and turned a painful personal memory into entertainment.
The former India pacer alleged that Harbhajan earned a significant amount from the ad and expressed disappointment that the incident was being used for commercial gain.
"I challenge you, Bhajji. If you have this much of a problem with the slap thing and me, and you earn this much... let me earn too. Come into the ring. I am calling you from my heart. If we have some self-respect, let’s not do ads and all that. In a genuine way, for all the Malayalis and all the Sardars, please come. I am waiting," he concluded.
It is important to mention that as of now, Harbhajan Singh has not publicly responded to Sreesanth’s challenge.
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