In a recent interview, Naveen-ul-Haq opens up on the intriguing saga that unfolded during the IPL 2023, particularly his clash with cricketing maestro Virat Kohli.
The incident, popularly known as the ‘sweet mangoes’ feud, became a hot topic of discussion, with fans speculating about the underlying tensions.
Naveen shared his side of the story, shedding light on the controversy that kept the cricketing community on tenterhooks.
Naveen-ul-Haq vs Virat Kohli: What was the controversy?
The incident happened during a gripping encounter between Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) and Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) in IPL 2023.
Kohli, known for his animated expressions on the field, directed some gestures towards Naveen when the latter stepped into bat during a low-scoring match.
The tension escalated during the customary handshakes, involving even LSG mentor Gautam Gambhir.
Post the game, the controversy took an unexpected turn when Naveen posted a picture of mangoes from his hotel room, captioned ‘Sweet Mangoes.’
The timing of the post, coinciding with Kohli’s dismissal in another match against Mumbai Indians, fueled speculation that it was a veiled dig at the RCB captain.
‘Sweet Mangoes’: Know Naveen-ul-Haq side
In the recent interview released on December 2, Naveen clarified the details of the ‘Sweet Mangoes’ post, dispelling assumptions that it was aimed at Kohli.
He revealed that the post was a result of a casual moment in Goa, where he had been expressing his craving for mangoes to LSG Team Logistics head Dhaval.
When mangoes were eventually brought to him, he posted the picture, and the misinterpretation ensued.
“I had been telling Dhaval bhai (LSG Team Logistics) for 3-4 days that I wanted to eat mangoes. When we went to Goa, he brought us mangoes. So I was eating mangoes, and the TV was on in front of me. There wasn’t even any picture [of Kohli] on the screen.”
“It was of some Mumbai Indians player. So I wrote ‘Sweet Mangoes’ and posted it, and people took it differently. So when they did, even I didn’t say anything. I thought let people have fun with the mangoes. It was the season for Mangoes, so people’s shops should also do well,” clarified Naveen.
Amidst the controversy, Naveen found motivation in the negative reactions and chants against him. In the Eliminator against Mumbai Indians, he showcased exceptional performance, taking 4-38 from his four overs.
According to Naveen, the extra motivation derived from the reactions propelled him to perform at his best.
“I said it gave me more motivation to play better. Because I couldn’t answer everybody by messaging or commenting or making them stop their chants. Playing the game was in my hands. By performing, I could show my abilities and my skills. So I got some motivation from that,” shared Naveen.
Naveen-ul-Haq and Virat Kohli hugged each other
The climax of this intriguing narrative unfolded during the 2023 World Cup at the Arun Jaitley Stadium in Delhi when Kohli and Naveen resolved their differences with a heartfelt embrace.
Naveen detailed the incident, explaining that the resolution happened spontaneously during a drinks break.
“Rohit [Sharma] bhai got out. Rashid [Khan] got him out, and there was a drinks break. After the break was over, I was going to long on to field. I was about to pass him [Kohli] when we had eye contact.”
“Virat said, ‘Let’s finish it.’ So I said, ‘Yeah, let’s finish it.’ Neither did he have anything [negative] in his heart [for me], nor did I [for him]. Whatever had happened, happened on the ground.”
The incident between Naveen and Kohli, which started with on-field clashes and cryptic social media posts, concluded with a gesture of sportsmanship, as the players hugged it out, signaling the end of the feud.
Also Read: ICC World Cup 2023: Virat Kohli And Naveen ul-Haq’s Heartwarming Gesture Of Sportsmanship
