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IPL 2023: Karma will always hit you back, Kohli fans troll Naveen after embarrassing LSG defeat

With Afghanistan scheduled to face host India in the World Cup later this year, it will be interesting to see how he bowls against Kohli in a hostile atmosphere

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Naveen-ul-Haq of Lucknow Super Giants at the post-match press conference. — IPL
by

Rituraj Borkakoty

Published: Thu 25 May 2023, 8:20 PM

Last updated: Fri 26 May 2023, 7:32 AM

Afghan fast bowler Naveen-ul-Haq hit the headlines again in the Indian Premier League.

Was it for the right reasons?

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Well, first things first — Naveen was the only Lucknow Super Giants player that made the right moves in a match that saw his team slump to an embarrassing 81-run defeat to the Mumbai Indians.

Naveen took four wickets in the match, including the big ones of Rohit Sharma, Cameron Green and Suryakumar Yadav, to help Lucknow restrict Mumbai to 182 for eight.

But his bowling heroics were not enough as Lucknow was bowled out for a paltry 101 after Mumbai's Akash Madhwal (5/5) bowled the spell of his life.

The demoralising defeat ended Lucknow's campaign in the tournament.

But fans didn't waste the opportunity to troll Naveen who had an ugly spat with Virat Kohli during a league match between Lucknow and the Royal Challengers Bangalore.

Even Gautam Gambhir, the Lucknow Super Giants team mentor, was involved in a heated post-match argument with Kohli following the RCB star's on-field spat with Naveen.

Since then, the rookie bowler had been trolling Kohli on social media with cryptic messages.

The 23-year-old teased Kohli after the former Indian captain missed out on a big score in RCB's match against Mumbai.

He shared a picture of mangoes on Instagram after Kohli's dismissal for just one run against Mumbai with the caption: 'sweet mangoes'.

Kohli then hit a brilliant hundred in the last league game against the Sunrisers Hyderabad to keep RCB's playoff hopes alive.

But despite Kohli's second-straight hundred in the last league game against the Gujarat Titans, RCB suffered a six-wicket defeat and bowed out of the tournament.

As soon as that match ended, Naveen took a sly dig again at Kohli on Instagram with a funny video.

The fans, though, have hit back at the Afghan star after his team, Lucknow, was knocked out of the competition on Wednesday night.

Twitterati have slammed Naveen for still holding a grudge against the former Indian captain.

"Karma will always hit you back, Naveen Ul haq and Gautam Gambhir," one fan tweeted.

"Virat Kohli's last IPL match score: 101. LSG total: 101. Have those sweet mangoes."

During the match against Mumbai on Wednesday, fans at the MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai even chanted Kohli's name every time Naveen was placed in the deep boundary as a fielder.

The fans also chanted Kohli's name when Naveen came on to bowl.

But that didn't seem to affect the bowler as he delivered an outstanding spell against the Mumbai Indians.

"I enjoy it. I like everyone on the ground chanting his (Virat Kohli) name or any other player's name. It gives me the passion to play well for my team," he said.

After he bamboozled three of the best Mumbai Indians batters, Naveen cupped his ears to taunt the the crowd that turned against him.

But with Afghanistan scheduled to face host India in the 50 overs World Cup later this year, Naveen can expect a hostile reception from the Indian crowd when he bowls against Kohli.

It will be interesting to see how this rising Afghan pacer handles the pressure and bowls to one of the best batsmen the game has ever seen.

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Rituraj Borkakoty

Published: Thu 25 May 2023, 8:20 PM

Last updated: Fri 26 May 2023, 7:32 AM

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