Legendary India spinner Ravichandran Ashwin has strongly criticized former IPL chairman Lalit Modi for releasing the long-suppressed video of Harbhajan Singh slapping S Sreesanth during the inaugural 2008 IPL season, an incident that remains one of the tournament’s most controversial moments. Ashwin expressed regret that the footage was made public again after the players involved had already moved on and reconciled, calling for closure rather than reigniting old tensions.
Ravichandran Ashwin blasts Lalit Modi for making Harbhajan Sreesanth slapgate video public
On his YouTube channel, Ashwin described the resurfacing of the video as “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 emphasized on his YouTube channel that such controversies are better left in the past in today’s era where videos and footage circulate widely. He pointed out that Harbhajan has publicly admitted his mistake and spoken about his regret, and both he and Sreesanth had buried the hatchet long ago.
Ashwin stressed that everyone knows about the incident and there is no reason to revisit it, urging people to move forward and not dwell on past mistakes for the sake of publicity or viewership. He also noted that people make mistakes and live with them, but moving on is equally important for growth and peace.
“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.
Also READ: Sreesanth’s wife hits back at Lalit Modi over slapgate video, ex-IPL chief retaliates
Harbhajan Singh calls out Modi over his selfish motives
Harbhajan himself condemned the release of the video, accusing Lalit Modi of having “selfish motives” behind leaking the footage almost two decades later. The former India off-spinner expressed that the incident happened during a tense moment in the game and that both players have since reconciled.
Harbhajan admitted feeling ashamed of what happened but lamented the unnecessary revival of the controversy, which has affected not only the players but also their families. Sreesanth’s wife also criticized Modi’s action, calling it disgraceful and hurtful to their family. Despite the video’s widespread attention, the consensus remains that both players have long moved beyond the episode and wish it had remained in the past.
This controversy highlights ongoing debates in sports and media about reopening old wounds for entertainment versus respecting the growth and reconciliation of those involved. Ashwin’s and Harbhajan’s responses underline the importance of letting go and focusing on positive progress.
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