Blast from the past: 18 years later, Lalit Modi shares unseen footage of Harbhajan-Sreesanth altercation

The Indian Premier League (IPL) has witnessed its fair share of controversies over the years, but one incident that still remains etched in the memories of cricket fans is the infamous ‘slap-gate’ episode involving Harbhajan Singh and Sreesanth in 2008.

Nearly 18 years after the altercation, former IPL chairman Lalit Modi has claimed to possess unseen footage of the incident, which he recently revealed on Michael Clarke's Beyond23 Cricket Podcast.

According to Modi, the video captures the moment when Harbhajan Singh slapped Sreesanth during a match between Kings XI Punjab (now Punjab Kings) and Mumbai Indians in Mohali.

The controversy dates back to the inaugural IPL season when Harbhajan Singh, who was the stand-in skipper for Mumbai Indians, shocked everyone by slapping Sreesanth after Punjab's victory. The fast bowler was later seen crying inconsolably on live television, being comforted by teammates. The incident led to a severe backlash, with Harbhajan being suspended for the remainder of the season and slapped with an 11-match ban.

Although Harbhajan later issued an apology, and both players eventually reconciled, the incident has remained a talking point in IPL folklore. Modi's revelation of possessing unseen footage has once again brought the controversy to the forefront, sparking memories of one of the darkest chapters in IPL history.