‘He is not even Virat’s fan’ – Fans react as Palestine supporter invades pitch and hugs Virat Kohli in ODI World Cup 2023 final

The ODI World Cup 2023 final between India and Australia is currently underway at the Narendra Modi stadium, and India have been asked to bat first by Australia’s captain, Pat Cummins. However, Rohit Sharma was happy with the decision even after he lost the toss.

Meanwhile, the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad was briefly interrupted when a pitch invader managed to bypass the security cordon. This incident occurred despite the deployment of more than 6,000 security personnel in the city and the stadium.

The pitch invader, a supporter of Palestine, made his way onto the field during the 14th over. He was wearing a t-shirt that read, “Stop bombing Palestine,” and was carrying a Palestine flag. His face mask also bore the colours of the Palestine flag.

ODI World Cup 2023 Final: A pitch invasion amid high security!

In a surprising turn of events, the fan managed to reach the pitch and hug Indian cricketer Virat Kohli, who was batting with KL Rahul, after India had lost three wickets in quick succession. The pitch invader was apprehended by security, removed from the field, and play resumed shortly after.

The police later arrested the Palestine supporter for breaching security and entering the ground. This incident has drawn attention to the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas, which has seen widespread protests since Hamas’ attack on Israel on October 7.

Pitch invasions during cricket matches, particularly involving India, seem to be becoming a recurring issue. In the ongoing ODI World Cup 2023, a pitch invader halted the India vs Australia final at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad. Notably, this is not the first incident in the tournament, as last month, British prankster Jarvo 69, also known as Daniel Jarvis, infiltrated the field wearing an India kit and approached Virat Kohli. Jarvis, infamous for disrupting cricket matches, had previously caused disruptions in Test matches between England and India, leading to the ECB launching a security review in 2021.

See how fans have reacted: