'Virat Kohli grabbed my hand forcefully and...': Naveen-ul-Haq claims RCB star started the fight

Afghanistan pacer Naveen-ul-Haq has landed fresh allegations on Virat Kohli, claiming that he was physically provoked by the Royal Challengers Bangalore star which led to an ugly spat between the two during the 2023 Indian Premier League.

 

 

Notably, the altercation that broke out between him and Lucknow Super Giants mentor Gautam Gambhir, also involved Naveen. During the 18th over of LSG's chase that Kohli and Naveen were involved in a heated exchange. Now, the Afghanistan bowler revealed that it was Virat triggering the fight.

 

 

"He (Kohli) shouldn't have said all those things during the match and after it. I didn't start the fight. After the match, when we were shaking hands, Virat Kohli started the fight. I just want to say one thing I generally don't sledge anyone, and even if I do it I would say it to the batters only when I am bowling because I am a bowler. In that match, I didn't utter a single word. I didn't sledge anyone," Naveen told BBC Pashto.

 

"Players who were there, they know how I dealt with the situation. I never lost my temper, when I was batting or after the match. What I did after the match can be seen by everyone. I was just shaking hands and then he (Kohli) grabbed my hand forcefully and I am also a human being and I reacted."

 

"When you will look at the fines you will understand who started the fight. If someone is saying something to me I won't back off. I have had it since I started playing the U-16 for Afghanistan. I never badmouth anyone but if anyone does that to me I don't stay silent. I give it back. You can call it wrong but that's how it is," he mentioned.

 

"Be it a young player from the opposition or a senior team member, be it in a club match, playing for Afghanistan, or in the IPL, I play the cricket match with the same intensity and I would back off when someone says something to me."