In the enthralling IPL 2023 clash between Lucknow Supergiants (LSG) and Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB), the cricketing world witnessed a heated exchange between two stalwarts, Virat Kohli and Naveen-ul-Haq. This scuffle, however, did not confine itself to the field; it spilled into post-match handshakes and even found a peculiar expression through social media. As the drama unfolded, fans were left in suspense, eagerly anticipating the next twist in this tale of on-field rivalry.
Following the contentious on-field encounter, Naveen-ul-Haq took an unexpected route to express his sentiments. Rather than resorting to conventional means, he chose to post cryptic photos of mangoes on his Instagram stories every time Kohli faced a setback in subsequent matches.
The Indian cricketing fraternity, known for its passionate and vocal fan base, did not take kindly to Naveen’s mango-themed jibes. Kohli-Kohli chants reverberated in the stadiums whenever Naveen took to the field, creating an atmosphere charged with tension. It seemed the fans had chosen sides, and Naveen found himself on the receiving end of relentless taunts.
In a surprising turn of events during the India vs Afghanistan game in the ICC Cricket World Cup 2023 held in Delhi, the narrative took an unexpected twist. Naveen-ul-Haq approached Virat Kohli, and to everyone’s surprise, they shared a heartfelt embrace, putting an end to the simmering feud. The post-game scenes revealed a camaraderie that few anticipated.
The Indian crowd, quick to react to the evolving dynamics, executed a remarkable U-turn. From taunting Naveen, they now found themselves supporting the Afghan cricketer. The display of sportsmanship and mutual respect during the India vs Afghanistan match had successfully won the hearts of fans, reshaping their loyalties in the process.
Naveen-ul-Haq Breaks Silence On The Reason Behind His Cryptic Mango Stories
In a video shared by Lucknow Supergiants (LSG) on X, Naveen-ul-Haq addressed the mango controversy, shedding light on the innocuous origins of his Instagram stories. He clarified that the seemingly provocative mango posts were merely a result of a personal preference for the fruit, unrelated to any animosity towards Kohli. The mention of ‘sweet mangoes’ in one of his posts was, in fact, a harmless reference to a Mumbai Indians player on the screen during the time.
Naveen elaborated, “I had told Dhaval bhai (LSG team logistics) that I wanted to eat mangoes. And he got mangoes that night itself. When we went to Goa, he brought mangoes. So I was sitting in front of the screen and eating mangoes. There was no picture or anything (of Kohli), it was a Mumbai Indians player on the screen. So I wrote ‘sweet mangoes’ and everyone took it in a different way. So even I didn’t say anything, I just left it. I thought it was mango season, so people’s shops should also do well.”
https://twitter.com/LucknowIPL/status/1730793995570434090?s=20
The Virat Kohli and Naveen-ul-Haq saga serves as a valuable lesson in the importance of perception in the world of sports. What initially appeared as a bitter rivalry transformed into a tale of reconciliation and mutual respect.
