Lucknow Super Giants pacer Naveen-ul-Haq has opened up on his on-field spat with Virat Kohli, which grabbed headlines during the 2023 Indian Premier League. He blamed Virat Kohli for starting the fight. The duo was engaged in a verbal altercation during the Royal Challengers Bangalore vs Lucknow Super Giants game on May 1 at the Ekana Stadium.
Naveen-ul-Haq and Virat Kohli were seen having a heated exchange during the game, as well as during handshakes. Later, the Royal Challengers Bangalore cricketer also had an ugly spat with Lucknow Super Giants mentor Gautam Gambhir. The spat escalated and Amit Mishra had to separate the duo. It turned out to be one of the most controversial things about the season.
Virat Kohli and Gautam Gambhir were fined 100 per cent of their match fees, while Naveen-ul-Haq was fined half of it. Speaking to BBC Pashto, the pacer expressed that Virat Kohli started the fight. He said,
“He shouldn’t have said all those things during the match and after it. I didn’t start the fight. After the match, when we were shaking hands, Virat Kohli started the fight.”
“When you will look at the fines, you will understand, who started the fight,” he added.
I didn’t utter a single word, and didn’t sledge anyone: Naveen-ul-Haq
Lucknow Super Giants bowler Naveen-ul-Haq further expressed that he did not sledge Virat Kohli or any other player in the match. He added that Virat Kohli caught his hand forcefully during the handshakes, which prompted his reaction. Naveen-ul-Haq said to BBC Pashto,
“I just want to say one thing I generally don’t sledge anyone, and even if I do it I would say it to the batters only when I am bowling because I am a bowler. In that match, I didn’t utter a single word. I didn’t sledge anyone. Players, who were there know how I dealt with the situation.”
“I never lost my temper, when I was batting or after the match. What I did after the match can be seen by everyone. I was just shaking hands and then he (Kohli) caught my hand forcefully and I am also a human being and I reacted,” he added.
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