Cricket, often referred to as the gentleman’s game, occasionally witnesses moments of intense rivalry and heated exchanges on the field. One such incident involving Virat Kohli and Naveen-ul-Haq during the 2023 IPL left cricket enthusiasts and fans buzzing.
During an IPL encounter between Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) and Lucknow Super Giants (LSG). Naveen-ul-Haq, an Afghan pacer, found himself in the spotlight during this game. The tension escalated further when Kohli made a derogatory gesture involving his shoe towards Naveen-ul-Haq. These moments of aggression were captured and widely discussed, igniting a fierce rivalry.
The aftermath of the match was equally eventful. Naveen-ul-Haq’s frustration with Kohli’s tactics led to him refusing to shake hands with the RCB star. The tensions spilt over as LSG mentor Gautam Gambhir joined in, having a furious exchange with Kohli. The situation grew so heated that they had to be separated by other players, adding more fuel to the fiery rivalry.
Since then, Naveen-ul-Haq and Virat Kohli have not faced each other on the cricket field. The anticipation surrounding their potential face-off in the ongoing 2023 World Cup match between India and Afghanistan is palpable. This clash is scheduled to take place at the Arun Jaitley Stadium in Delhi, which holds particular significance as it’s Virat Kohli’s home ground.
In a pre-match press conference, Afghanistan skipper Hashmatullah Shahidi provided insight into the matter. He began by acknowledging India as their “home” and expressed gratitude for the love and support Afghan players receive from Indian fans.
Shahidi said, “See, as you mentioned before, also like India is our home, it was our home, we played here and the people of India give a lot of love to Afghanistan people. And what happened on the ground, that aggression comes to every player, it’s not about India and Afghanistan. So, it can come to everyone.”
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Shahidi emphasized that on-field aggression is a common occurrence in cricket, transcending national boundaries. He added that many Afghan players have idols from the Indian cricket team, such as Tendulkar and Rahul Dravid. The rivalry, he implied, did not affect the mutual admiration between the players from both nations.
“So, this happened and still like if you see a lot of our players, we have idols from Indian team like Tendulkar and Rahul Dravid. So, there’s not any concern about that,” he added while speaking in the pre-match presser.
While the controversy between Kohli and Naveen-ul-Haq might have fueled the anticipation for this match, it’s essential to remember that cricket is ultimately a sport that unites fans worldwide. The clash between India and Afghanistan promises to be an exciting display of skill, sportsmanship, and the spirit of the game.
