[WATCH] 'I challenge you, Bhajji' - Sreesanth throws open boxing challenge to Harbhajan Singh amid renewed ‘slapgate’ row

Former India pacer S Sreesanth has once again taken aim at former teammate Harbhajan Singh as the long-standing tensions between the two cricketers continue to resurface nearly two decades after the infamous IPL ‘Slapgate’ controversy.

The incident dates back to the inaugural season of the Indian Premier League in 2008 when Harbhajan slapped Sreesanth following a heated encounter between the Mumbai Indians and Kings XI Punjab (now Punjab Kings). While both players appeared to have moved on from the episode over the years, the controversy returned to the spotlight after Harbhajan recently featured in an advertisement that seemingly referenced the infamous incident.

The advertisement did not go down well with Sreesanth, who has openly expressed his displeasure over the matter in recent weeks. During a recent podcast appearance, Sreesanth was shown an old photograph featuring him and Harbhajan dressed in boxing gear.

Reacting to the image, the former Kerala pacer issued a direct challenge to Harbhajan, inviting him to step into a boxing ring and settle their differences once and for all.

“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? Can you? I am asking him. Do you have the guts to come into the ring with me? Wearing this 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,” Sreesanth said in an interview with Lallantop.

The 42-year-old further revealed his association with combat sports and stated that he would be willing to face Harbhajan in an organised fight event.

“I am currently in the Bear Knuckle Fight League, and I am also one of the main sponsors of Conor McGregor’s video; one of my good friends sponsored it, so the promotion is also done. I am challenging you, Bhajji (Harbhajan Singh),” he added.

Watch the clip here - 

Sreesanth continued his remarks by urging Harbhajan to address the issue directly rather than through advertisements. The former speedster said he was ready for a genuine contest and called upon Harbhajan to accept the challenge.

“I challenge you, Bhajji. 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.

Now, whether Harbhajan responds to Sreesanth’s latest challenge remains to be seen.