Amit Mishra recently sparked discussions by addressing the controversy from IPL 2023 involving a heated on-field exchange between Virat Kohli and Naveen-ul-Haq. The incident occurred during a match between Lucknow Super Giants and Royal Challengers Bangalore, leading to a post-match confrontation between Kohli and Gautam Gambhir. The situation escalated with both Kohli and Gambhir charging towards each other, necessitating intervention from players and match officials.
Reflecting on the incident a year later during a podcast, Mishra suggested that the altercation had lasting impacts on the relationship between Kohli and Naveen. Mishra expressed doubts about whether Naveen would ever respect Kohli again after witnessing such behavior from the Indian batting superstar.
Naveen’s connect with the king kohli!👑 #WhistleForTexas#AllYouNeedIsYellove#CognizantMajorLeagueCricket#MLC2024 pic.twitter.com/qshjxUpN5r
— Texas Super Kings (@TexasSuperKings) July 17, 2024
“For social media, it all seemed to be over between them. But do you think Naveen will respect Kohli ever again? What about the youngsters who saw the incident where a big star was abusing others,” Amit Mishra remarked.
However, in a recent video shared by Major League Cricket (MLC) franchise Texas Super Kings, Naveen-ul-Haq emphasized that both he and Kohli have moved past the incident. Naveen reiterated that the altercation was merely a product of the “heat of the moment.”
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He stated, “I don’t have the count of it but many times now I have been asked about and have made it clear. It was in the heat of the moment. He was representing his franchise and I was representing mine. It’s what I do. If it’s for my country or my franchise, I won’t back down.”
Naveen further elaborated on the dynamics between players, explaining that, at the end of the day, they remain friends and colleagues. He noted, “It’s nothing that personal which would continue outside the field. But yes, social media keeps it going on till it gets something out of it. In the ODI World Cup, it finished once and for all.”
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The tension was finally put to rest during the 2023 ODI World Cup when India played against Afghanistan. Kohli signaled to the Delhi crowd to stop teasing Naveen, and later, the two embraced, signaling a clear end to the feud. This gesture underscored the sportsmanship and camaraderie that ultimately prevail among cricket players, despite on-field altercations.
