Former India off-spinner Harbhajan Singh has landed in controversy after featuring in an advertisement that many viewers believe alludes to the infamous 2008 IPL ‘slapgate’ incident involving S Sreesanth. At the time, Harbhajan was playing for Mumbai Indians, while Sreesanth represented Punjab Kings (formerly Kings XI Punjab). Although the commercial was intended to be humorous, it has drawn criticism for reviving a painful chapter in the former fast bowler’s life and career.
The advertisement, made for a leading e-commerce marketplace, shows Harbhajan playing the role of a strict teacher conducting a class on repairing faulty home appliances. In a scene that quickly became the centre of debate, Harbhajan raises his hand to demonstrate a point, appearing to slap a student. The moment immediately reminded viewers of the on-field altercation during the inaugural IPL season that shocked Indian cricket.
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The reference appeared even more pointed when Harbhajan addressed a student wearing a familiar headband as “Shreeman” — a nickname closely associated with Sreesanth during his playing days. While the ad concludes with a message discouraging violence, stating that appliances cannot be fixed with a slap, many felt the visual reference itself crossed a line.
Critics argue that the portrayal trivialises an incident that carried serious emotional and professional consequences. For Sreesanth, the 2008 episode remains one of the most traumatic moments of his career, with its impact extending far beyond the immediate fallout of that match.
The criticism intensified after Sreesanth’s wife, Bhuvneshwari, shared a strongly worded Instagram statement expressing her disappointment over the advertisement. In her post, she questioned the intent behind revisiting the incident and suggested that it contradicted Harbhajan’s repeated claims of regret over the years.
“In almost every podcast and interview you have done, you have repeatedly said that you regret that incident, that if there is one thing you could change in your life, it would be that, and that you want to move on from it. And yet, you go ahead and do an advertisement built on the very same line — fully knowing how derogatory it is, what it implies, and what it reopens — purely for monetary gain,” the post read.
She further added that the decision appeared deliberate rather than accidental. “This is not a lapse. This is a conscious choice. Your actions completely contradict everything you claim in interviews. If the regret you speak about were genuine, this ad would never have been done,” the statement continued, concluding with the words, “Extremely disappointed.” The post also tagged both Sreesanth and Harbhajan Singh.
The controversy has sparked mixed reactions on social media. While some users defended Harbhajan, arguing that the commercial was clearly meant in jest and that the backlash was excessive, others sided with Sreesanth, stating that revisiting a painful episode for humour was insensitive. One user wrote, “Some things are better left in the past. Turning painful memories into jokes is disrespectful.”
Over the years, Harbhajan himself has acknowledged the incident as one of the biggest regrets of his career. Despite the renewed controversy, the two former teammates have maintained cordial relations in recent years and have been seen together at public events and promotional engagements.
Both Harbhajan Singh and Sreesanth are now set to feature in the inaugural World Legends Pro T20 League in Goa. Harbhajan will represent the Delhi Warriors, while Sreesanth will turn out for the Gurugram Thunders. The tournament is scheduled to begin on 26 January 2026 at the 1919 Sportz Cricket Stadium.
