Sreesanth Challenges Harbhajan Singh to Boxing Match Over 'Slapgate' Controversy

Former India fast bowler S Sreesanth has reignited his infamous feud with Harbhajan Singh, throwing down an open challenge to the former spinner for an in-ring fight nearly two decades after the IPL's infamous 'Slapgate' controversy.

In explosive remarks made during an appearance on Lallantop, Sreesanth accused Harbhajan of repeatedly profiting from the 2008 incident and challenged his former India teammate to settle their differences in a genuine combat contest.

“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?” Sreesanth said while referring to an old promotional image of the pair wearing boxing gloves.

“Wearing these 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,” he added.

‘If you have a problem with me, come into the ring’

Sreesanth, who recently became involved with the Bear Knuckle Fight League, doubled down on his challenge and urged Harbhajan to settle the issue inside the ring instead of revisiting the controversy through advertisements.

“I am currently in the Bear Knuckle Fight League. I am challenging you, Bhajji,” he said.

“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 said.

Sreesanth says controversial ad reopened old wounds

The former pacer revealed that he had never publicly spoken about Harbhajan and the 2008 incident until recently, claiming that a new advertisement featuring the ex-spinner had reignited painful memories.

“I have never spoken about Bhajji in any interview. This is going to be the first time,” Sreesanth had told Mathrubhumi when the new Harbhajan ad emerged.

“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.”

Sreesanth said the ad prompted him to cut ties with Harbhajan once again.

“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,” he said.

“I have no relationship with that person. I used to call him a brother. But in that last one or two months he did that ad and now I have blocked him on Instagram.”

The comments have revived memories of the 2008 IPL 'Slapgate' episode, when Harbhajan, then representing Mumbai Indians, slapped Sreesanth after a match against Kings XI Punjab.

Harbhajan later apologised and was suspended for the remainder of the season, with both players appearing to have reconciled in the years that followed.

However, Sreesanth's latest outburst suggests the wounds from one of Indian cricket's most controversial off-field incidents are far from healed.