Afghanistan’s pacer Naveen-ul-Haq recently made a statement that brought back memories of his intense on-field confrontation with Indian star Virat Kohli during the 2023 Indian Premier League (IPL). The heated argument between Kohli, playing for Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB), and Naveen, representing Lucknow Super Giants (LSG), became one of IPL 2023’s most talked-about incidents.
Things escalated further when LSG’s mentor, Gautam Gambhir, also joined the altercation, making the incident even more controversial. Later, during Afghanistan’s ODI World Cup match against India in October 2023, Kohli and Naveen appeared to reconcile in a surprising public display of goodwill as they hugged, putting the rivalry behind them.
Taking Digs: Naveen’s “Mango” Moment
Despite the public truce, Naveen did not miss subtle opportunities to poke fun at Kohli. One memorable instance involved him sharing an Instagram story of mangoes while watching an RCB match, right after Kohli had been dismissed. This post was perceived by fans as a lighthearted jab at Kohli and quickly went viral.
Recently, Naveen’s humorous side came up again during an interaction with ESPNCricinfo. When asked whether he would rather “never eat a mango again or never take a five-for,” Naveen’s response, “Never eat a mango again,” had fans laughing and reminded them of his previous playful interactions related to the mango post.
Future with RCB?
As LSG recently released Naveen from their squad, speculation has mounted about whether he could be a target for RCB in the upcoming IPL auctions. Although LSG retained key players like Nicholas Pooran, Mayank Yadav, and Ravi Bishnoi, along with promising uncapped stars Mohsin Khan and Ayush Badoni, Naveen’s release means he is now up for grabs.
When asked if he would prefer to bowl or bat with Kohli, Naveen quipped, “I have bowled to him, so I will choose to bat with him,” hinting at the possibility of joining forces. His witty responses and the history between him and Kohli have fueled fan excitement, raising questions about a potential collaboration with RCB, which would certainly add a fascinating layer to the upcoming season.
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