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India imposed a thumping victory over Afghanistan by eight wickets in Match 9 of the ongoing ICC Cricket World Cup 2023 at the Arun Jaitley Stadium on Wednesday. In pursuit of a target of 273 for victory in New Delhi, the home team, led by skipper Rohit Sharma‘s knock of 131 runs, successfully reached their goal in just 35 overs.
A peculiar match incident that drew everyone’s attention was the cheerful handshake between Virat Kohli and Naveen Ul Haq. It is worth noting that Kohli and Naveen had a heated exchange on the cricket field during the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2023. However, their demeanour was much more amicable during the World Cup fixture. In fact, Kohli addressed the crowd at Arun Jaitley Stadium, urging them to refrain from taunting the Afghan fast bowler.
Royal Challengers Bangalore’s ‘No grudges’ reaction
Kohli’s IPL franchize Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) responded to the heartening moment by posting a photo of the two players exchanging a handshake, emphasizing that there’s no room for animosity within the dominion of the King.
“Virat, Naveen In the King’s realm, grudges find no place: Star Sports #PlayBold #INDvAFG #TeamIndia #IndianCricket #CWC23,” the IPL franchise tweeted.
Virat 🤝 Naveen
In the King's realm, grudges find no place 🫂
📸: Star Sports#PlayBold #INDvAFG #TeamIndia #IndianCricket #CWC23 pic.twitter.com/DrmlVzaxqy
— Royal Challengers Bangalore (@RCBTweets) October 11, 2023
The Bangalore based cricket team took things a step further by sharing an image of the altercation and subsequent handshake between Kohli and Naveen, comparing it to similar moments in the football world, featuring iconic footballers Cristiano Ronaldo and Marcelo, highlighting the shared positive energy in these instances.
Same vibes 👊🫂
📸: Star Sports/ FIFA #PlayBold #INDvAFG #CWC23 pic.twitter.com/zOGLEd1usg
— Royal Challengers Bangalore (@RCBTweets) October 11, 2023
Lucknow Super Giants’ unique response
Naveen’s IPL franchise, the Lucknow Super Giants, also tweeted a picture of this heartwarming moment, captioning it as ‘Navirat,’ amalgamating the players’ names to celebrate their sportsmanship.
Also WATCH: Virat Kohli and Naveen-ul-Haq resolve differences; exchange handshake during IND vs AFG match in Delhi
𝐍𝐚𝐯𝐢𝐫𝐚𝐭. 🤝💙 pic.twitter.com/C6qEoq38Dn
— Lucknow Super Giants (@LucknowIPL) October 11, 2023
LSG shared a collage picture featuring two significant moments: one capturing Kohli shaking hands with Steve Smith and the other involving Kohli’s handshake with Naveen.
This collage served as a reminder of the incident when Kohli urged the fans not to jeer Smith during 2019 World Cup, showcasing the former Indian captain’s sportsmanship in various situations.
Also READ: ODI World Cup 2023 – Naveen ul Haq praises Virat Kohli after drawing a curtain on IPL feud during IND vs AFG clash
King for a reason! 💙👏 pic.twitter.com/KbJvwk78tB
— Lucknow Super Giants (@LucknowIPL) October 11, 2023