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'He Started The Fight': Naveen-Ul-Haq's 'Explosive' Remarks on Virat Kohli

Vishal Mehra

image-liy1b7woNaveen-ul-Haq claimed 11 wickets in IPL 2023 [Source: Twitter]

In what became one of the biggest talking points of the recently concluded Indian Premier League (IPL) 2023 season, the Naveen-ul-Haq and Virat Kohli spat during Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) and Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) took the cricketing world by storm. Both players were involved in a spat during and post the match, which was led by LSG mentor Gautam Gambhir also joined the fray.

Now, in an interview, Afghanistan speedster Ul-Haq has revealed in depth about the whole incident, and who started the verbal altercation between him and the former RCB skipper.

Speaking to BBC Pashto, the 23-year-old claimed that Kohli started the fight, and even went on to forcefully catch Ul-Haq's hand during the customary post-match handshakes.

Here's what Naveen-ul-Haq 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.

While Ul-Haq was fined 50 percent of his match fee, the former India skipper was docked 100 percent of his match fee. Ul-Haq further went on to make his stance clear on sledding and maintained that he did not strike any unnecessary words during the encounter in Lucknow. 

"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 they 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 is can be seen by everyone. I was just shaking hands and then he (Kohli) caught my hand forcefully and I am also human being and I reacted,”

In his maiden IPL season, Naveen claimed 11 wickets in eight games for LSG, which include two three-wicket and one four-wicket haul, respectively.