Afghanistan’s pace sensation, Naveen-ul-Haq, has stirred up the cricket world once again by shedding light on his heated encounter with Virat Kohli during IPL 2023. Not only did he recount the clash, but he also delved into the reasons behind Gautam Gambhir’s infamous gesture to the Bangalore crowd.
The intense matches between Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) and Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) last season sparked significant controversy, particularly one incident that involved a silent plea from Gambhir to the Bangalore crowd.
Flashpoint
In a candid discussion on Zalmi TV’s YouTube podcast, Naveen Ul Haq revisited the contentious episode, providing insights into the sequence of events. He recalled, “Our journey took us to Bangalore for an away match, marking the beginning of it all… and triumphantly, we emerged victorious in that encounter.”
It was a nail-biting finish, and tensions were running high.” Haq recalled a pivotal moment when Avesh Khan, one of their players, expressed his exuberance by thumping his helmet on the ground, a gesture that seemingly irked Virat Kohli.
Reflecting on the incident further, Haq elaborated, “When their team visited Lucknow, our home ground, they were on the brink of victory… I came in to bat at number 9 or 10… With the match slipping away from us, I didn’t anticipate any sledging since it was a dead rubber, and they were clearly dominating. However, I found myself on the receiving end of some sledging… and being the person I am, I responded in kind.”
Gambhir’s Fury
Haq also shed light on Gambhir’s heated reaction during the Bangalore match, explaining, “Gautam Gambhir was incensed during that match because we needed just one run off the final ball, and the bowler attempted to run out our non-striker, which would have ended the match. His actions escalated tensions because he tried to resort to such tactics, but when he failed, it soured the spirit of the game.”
Gesture of Sportsmanship
Following the IPL altercation, Naveen Ul Haq faced backlash from fans wherever he played. However, during a clash between India and Afghanistan in the World Cup 2023, Kohli intervened to defuse the situation, urging fans not to boo Naveen. Haq expressed relief as the tensions thawed during the World Cup, stating, “Everything normalized during the World Cup… we even played a series in India afterward. We had a conversation after the World Cup match.”
