The highly anticipated showdown between Virat Kohli and Naveen-ul-Haq took center stage in the 2023 Cricket World Cup clash between India and Afghanistan. Despite their previous on-field altercation during the Indian Premier League (IPL) earlier that year, the two cricketers surprised everyone by embracing during India’s innings.
Kohli, known for his fiery spirit, even called on the New Delhi crowd to cease taunting Naveen, the Afghanistan fast bowler.
Notably, Gautam Gambhir, who had his own clash with the duo during the IPL, provided commentary during this heartwarming moment. He expressed his disapproval of the crowd’s taunts and stressed that on-field disputes should remain on the field.
He emphasized that every player, regardless of their nationality or skills, has the right to fight for their team, respect, and victory. Gambhir’s comments echoed the sentiment that players, both on the ground and in the digital realm, should not face online trolling or mockery.
“You fight on the field, not off the field. Every player has the right to fight for his team, fight for respect, and fight to win. It doesn’t matter which country you belong to or how good of a player you are,” said the Lucknow Super Giant mentor.
On the same day, Rohit Sharma made history by scoring his seventh World Cup century, surpassing the legendary Sachin Tendulkar.
His brilliant performance led India to a dominant eight-wicket victory over Afghanistan. Chasing a target of 273 runs in New Delhi, the Indian team achieved this milestone in just 35 overs, securing their second consecutive win in the 50-over event.
