Harbhajan-Sreesanth Slapgate: Former Mumbai Indians coach says 'fine was unnecessary'

Former India cricketer and renowned coach Lalchand Rajput has revealed that he was fined in the aftermath of the infamous slapgate incident during the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2008. The slapgate controversy is remembered as one of the darkest chapters of the IPL involving former India cricketers Harbhajan Singh and S Sreesanth.

Following Mumbai Indians’ (MI) 66-run defeat to Kings XI Punjab (now Punjab Kings) in Match 10 of the inaugural IPL season played in Mohali, Harbhajan, who was leading MI in the absence of Sachin Tendulkar, ended up slapping Sreesanth while the two teams were doing customary handshakes after the match.

Lalchand Rajput, who was Mumbai Indians’ coach at the time, recently recalled the incident and revealed how he was fined for not stopping the two players in an exclusive conversation with Mr Cricket UAE.

“It happened when the two teams were shaking hands after the match. I was just behind them; I don’t know what suddenly happened between the two. But whatever happened wasn’t good for the game because sometimes, players get instigated. You will be surprised to know that even I was also fined. They felt that I should’ve stopped, but I was like, ‘how come I would know that he’s going to hit’,” Lalchand Rajput told Mr Cricket UAE.

“Players also have some animosity when they’re playing in the middle. The worst thing was that Harbhajan is a Punjab boy and he was playing for Mumbai Indians, and we were playing in Punjab’s home ground in Mohali, where we lost. So he must’ve felt it deeply,” said Rajput.

Rajput also refrained from commenting further, jokingly saying that he might get fined again.

“However, the incident has been blown way out of proportion now as both players have spoken against each other in recent times. So, I should avoid it or else I will get fined again (laughs). After the loss, a player said something to me and I was smiling to him so they asked me how can you smile and I was like ‘just watch the footage again’,” he added.

Following the incident, the BCCI (Board of Control for Cricket in India) came down heavily on Harbhajan, banning him for the remaining 11 games of the inaugural season. Along with that, the off-spinner was also fined 100% of his match fee and banned for five ODI matches, while Sreesanth was let off with a warning. 

On the other hand, Lalchand Rajput was found guilty of a level 2 offence and fined 50% of his match fee.

"Rajput was right behind Harbhajan when the incident took place. He didn't take any step to restrain him. He has been fined 50% of his match fee,” said Lalit Modi, the IPL chief commissioner and the BCCI vice president at the time.