The hopes of Royal Challengers Bangalore making it to the playoffs of IPL 2023 were shattered after a defeat against Gujarat Titans. To add insult to injury, Naveen-ul-Haq, an Afghan cricketer representing Lucknow Super Giants, took a dig at Virat Kohli, RCB’s captain, further fueling the ire of his fans.
Following RCB’s loss, Naveen-ul-Haq shared a meme on his Instagram story, mocking Virat Kohli. The meme depicted a person laughing and clapping in amusement. This gesture by Naveen-ul-Haq has led fans to speculate that he was taunting Kohli and celebrating RCB’s defeat.
It’s worth noting that Naveen-ul-Haq has faced the wrath of fans before. In a previous match against Kolkata Knight Riders, he had engaged in a gesture asking Indian fans to stay quiet, which further intensified the negative sentiment towards him.
The incident between Naveen-ul-Haq and Virat Kohli occurred earlier in the tournament when RCB defeated Lucknow by 18 runs on May 1, 2023. As the players were shaking hands after the match, Naveen-ul-Haq reportedly exhibited disrespectful behavior towards Kohli during their handshake.
Unfortunately for RCB, their hopes of reaching the IPL playoffs were dashed by the Gujarat Titans, who secured a six-wicket victory. Despite Kohli’s impressive back-to-back centuries, Shubman Gill’s outstanding innings overshadowed RCB’s efforts.
As a result of RCB’s defeat, the Mumbai Indians secured the fourth spot in the playoffs. Mumbai Indians had previously clinched an eight-wicket victory over the Sunrisers Hyderabad. RCB’s campaign came to an end with a sixth-place finish, accumulating a total of 14 points.
The incident involving Naveen-ul-Haq’s mocking post adds another chapter to the ongoing rivalry between him and Virat Kohli, further igniting the emotions of fans on both sides. It remains to be seen how this controversy unfolds and whether any action will be taken in response to Naveen-ul-Haq’s behavior.
