NEW DELHI: Indian cricket star
Ravichandran Ashwin slammed former IPL chairman Lalit Modi and ex-Australia captain Michael Clarke for sharing an unseen video of the 2008 IPL ‘slapgate’ controversy, in which Harbhajan Singh slapped S Sreesanth. The episode, which led to an 11-match ban for Harbhajan, resurfaced after Modi released the footage on Clarke’s podcast, despite both players having reconciled long ago.
The video’s release has drawn widespread criticism, including from Sreesanth’s wife, who denounced it as “disgraceful” and damaging to their family.
Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel. SUBSCRIBE NOW!Harbhajan had earlier admitted regret over the incident, and he and Sreesanth have since built a cordial bond, even collaborating professionally on multiple occasions.
“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.
Ashwin further stressed the importance of moving on, pointing out that such errors could happen in private settings too.
“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.
The controversy dates back to an IPL clash between Mumbai Indians and Punjab Kings during the league’s inaugural season in 2008.
Despite both players having moved past the incident and shared a positive relationship in recent years, the re-release of the footage has reignited old wounds.
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