‘I don’t want to talk to you; you hit my father’: Harbhajan recalls conversation with Sreesanth’s daughter

Former Indian cricketer Harbhajan Singh recently expressed deep remorse over the infamous 2008 IPL incident where he slapped fellow cricketer S. Sreesanth. Recalling the episode during a conversation on R. Ashwin’s YouTube show Kutti Stories, Harbhajan said that if he could change one thing in his career, it would be that regrettable moment. At the time, Harbhajan was playing for Mumbai Indians, while Sreesanth represented the then Kings XI Punjab. Despite being opponents in that game, Harbhajan admitted that his actions were unjustifiable.

He revealed that he has repeatedly apologised for the incident, acknowledging that although Sreesanth may have provoked him, his own behavior was completely unacceptable. Harbhajan emphasized that everyone makes mistakes, but the key is to learn from them and never repeat them.

What left Harbhajan particularly heartbroken was a later interaction with Sreesanth’s young daughter. He shared how she refused to speak with him, saying, “You hit my father.” This unexpected and innocent comment shattered him emotionally. Harbhajan described how that moment made him question the long-lasting impact of his actions, particularly the impression he left on the child.

He expressed a sincere desire to change how she views him and said he continues to apologize to her whenever possible. Harbhajan hopes that as she grows older, she will come to see him not as someone who hurt her father, but as a well-meaning person who made a mistake and is willing to make amends.

Concluding, Harbhajan said that the incident is the biggest regret of his career and a chapter he wishes he could erase. He hopes to be seen in a better light and be someone Sreesanth’s daughter can someday eventually forgive!