Naveen-Ul-Haq says he enjoys hearing “Kohli-Kohli” in a press conference after LSG VS MI eliminator!

Naveen-Ul-Haq says he enjoys hearing "Kohli-Kohli" in a press conference after LSG VS MI eliminator!

In the IPL 2023, Naveen-ul-Haq has excelled equally on and off the pitch. The way he handled an angry Virat Kohli on his own tells everything about his trust in himself for a 23-year-old. Many might not agree regarding his on-field theatrics and online posts, that were, to be truthful, a little inappropriate.

Since Rashid Khan’s ascension to match-winning status, Afghanistan cricketers have appeared in the IPL rather frequently, but none have managed to replicate the kind of influence Naveen-ul-Haq has with the Lucknow Super Giants in the 16th edition of the competition.

Following the IPL 2023 Eliminator between LSG and Mumbai Indians, this was yet again fully on display. Along with taking the four biggest MI wickets—Rohit Sharma, Suryakumar Yadav, Tilak Varma, and Cameron Green—the right-arm bowler also enjoyed them in his own unique style.

After that fateful evening in Lucknow, when Naveen Ul Haq and Kohli got into a furious dispute and then made some odd social media posts, he has routinely put both fingers over his ears to indicate to the audience that he isn’t hearing any of their taunts.

No matter whose pitch LSG play on, ‘Kohli’ chants have welcomed Naveen each time he has run in to bowl since then. The gathering in Chepauk was the same. “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. 

“Well I don’t concentrate on the outside or the noise from outside or anything else. I just focus on my own cricket and my own process. Crowd chanting or anyone saying something doesn’t affect me. As professional sportsmen, you have to take this in your stride. When you don’t do well for your team, fans are going to give it to you. And when you do good for your team, (the) same people are going to chant your name.”