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Virat Kohli and Naveen-ul-Haq Reconciliation: 3 times cricketers fought on field and sorted their differences later
Virat Kohli and Naveen-ul-Haq were the centre of attraction when India and Afghanistan faced off at the Arun Jaitley Stadium in Delhi on Wednesday. Given their history since Indian Premier League (IPL) 2023, many expected a heated encounter between the two in the 2023 ODI World Cup as well. However, the scenarios were totally different from expectations as the Indian ace batter and the young Afghanistan pacer buried the hatchet with a warm embrace.
It all started during an IPL 2023 game between Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) and Lucknow Super Giants (LSG). Kohli and Naveen endured heated exchanges during LSG’s batting innings, and there was another spat after the game when the two teams shook hands. LSG mentor Gautam Gambhir also indirectly fueled the altercation and had to be separated by their teammates.
However, the scenes in Delhi were different with even Kohli appealing to the crowd not to mock the Afghan pacer. They were seen hugging and smiling at each other, hinting that they had resolved past differences. Former India cricketer Gambhir also gave a thumbs-up to Kohli for his great gesture.
In this article, we look at three instances where cricketers fought on the field and later sorted out their differences.
3. Harbhajan Singh and Andrew Symonds
The veteran Indian spinner and late Australian all-rounder was embroiled in a ‘Monkeygate scandal’ during the second Test of 2007/08 India’s tour of Australia in Sydney. The root of the controversy was Harbhajan’s hard-luck wish for Brett Lee after hitting a boundary. Symonds couldn’t help but react when the Indian taunted his teammate.
Harbhajan also responded to him, which the Australian team appealed that he had used a racial slur towards Symonds. Following the incident, Harbhajan was banned for three matches. However, after a number of hearings, he cleared all charges. Later, they became friends and even played for Mumbai Indians together in the IPL.
2. Harbhajan Singh and Sreesanth
Harbhajan got into another ugly fight, this time it was even worse because the opponent was his countryman. After the 2008 IPL match between the Mumbai Indians (MI) and the Kings XI Punjab (KXIP), Harbhajan Singh allegedly slapped Sreesanth. It was understood that Sreesanth had sledged the MI players. Following an inquiry, the Turbanator was banned for a couple of matches. There was no footage of the Indian spinner slapping, but visuals of the right-arm pacer crying went viral.
However, things patched up between the two as they apologised to each other and resolved their differences. They even played a key role in India’s 2011 World Cup-winning campaign. Now both are seen together in public and even participate in cricket shows.
1. Virat Kohli and Steve Smith
During the Bengaluru Test between India and Australia in 2017, Steve Smith was adjudged LBW off Umesh Yadav’s bowling. But the Aussie batter, confused about whether to give a review, decided to gesture to the dressing room to ask about the same. Then Indian captain Virat Kohli brought this to the attention of the on-field umpire, who then denied Smith to take the review.
The duo had a heated exchange on the field and Kohli was even fired-up in the press conference. However, things settled down between them and during the 2019 World Cup, Kohli appealed to the crowd not to jeer the Australian, who was embroiled in the ‘sandpapergate’ controversy.