During the 2023 ODI World Cup match between India and Afghanistan, Virat Kohli and Naveen-ul-Haq had a moment to savour. During one of the Lucknow Super Giants against Royal Challengers Bangalore IPL games in 2023, they got into a heated argument. The scenes got pretty ugly after the game concluded in Lucknow in May 2023.
When the two faced off in the international competition, they made the decision to call it quits. In the LSG interview, Naveen talked candidly about the experience.
The Lucknow Super Giants Pacer spoke on the franchise’s podcast about their relationship. He said, “I respect Virat Kohli as a player. He has done a lot as a cricketer and is still giving magnificent performances. We have to acknowledged that. We had an eye contact and he said let’s finish our differences and I agreed to it.”
Naveen asserted that he never harboured animosity against Virat. He said, “The incident happened on the field and we moved on. I never thought I would sledge him or say something when we meet next time. In the World Cup, he was representing his country and I was playing for my nation. He told the crowd to stop teasing me with his name and it was a nice gesture.”
“The picture I put not even had Virat in it” : Naveen-ul-Haq
Fans misinterpreted Naveen’s caption, which he explained that he was eating the fruit whilst watching the game and had absolutely nothing to accomplish with Virat. Fans made fun of Naveen by referencing mangoes as Mumbai knocked Lucknow during the playoffs.
The Afghanistan pacer said, “I told Dhawal (Kulkarni) Bhai when would he get mangoes for me as it was the season. He brought mangoes for me on that very day when MI was up against RCB. I was watching the game and put up a random post and the picture I put not even had Virat in it. My post showed Mumbai Indians players.”
