Naveen ul Haq has called Virat Kohli a “nice guy” after they seemingly ended their highly-discussed rivalry – that started in this year’s IPL – with a hug during the India-Afghanistan clash in the 2023 World Cup.
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Kohli and Naveen had an infamous encounter during this year’s IPL when the two exchanged words during the match between Royal Challengers Bangalore and Lucknow Super Giants. Naveen had seemingly said a few words to the former India skipper when he was batting, and the spat continued after the clash as well, with drama during the post-game handshakes.
Since then, Naveen has often been targeted by Indian fans, with chants of “Kohli Kohli” being heard whenever he played. It was no different during the World Cup match in Delhi, Kohli’s hometown either, with the crowd erupting every time Naveen was shown on the big screen.
The two, however, seemed to have hugged it out, with Naveen walking up to Kohli during the game. The two shook hands and hugged each other, with Kohli also signalling to the crowd to not boo Naveen, similar to the gesture he had done in the 2019 World Cup when he asked the crowd to cheer on Steve Smith instead of jeering following his return from the ball-tampering saga.
That gesture had fetched Kohli the ICC Spirit of the Year Award.
Naveen has praised Kohli for a similar gesture on Wednesday. Speaking to reporters after the game, Naveen said, “He [Kohli] is a nice guy, he’s a good player. We just shook hands and just dusted (sic) whatever was done in the IPL. It was always on the ground, nothing outside. People make it big, the media – they want this stuff for their followers.”
On the “Kohli Kohli” chants that were mockingly directed at him, he said, “We don’t think about anything like that. The crowd chants whoever’s name they want. It’s his home ground and they have to support their home team and hometown boy.”
