However, Naveen-ul-Haq’s recent celebratory gesture during the Eliminator match against Mumbai Indians (MI) has added a new saga to the rivalry.
Now, Naveen Ul Haq has potentially become the villain in the eyes of Rohit Sharma and Mumbai Indians’ fans as well.
Naveen-ul-Haq’s Shut The Outside Noise Celebration
During the crucial Eliminator match, Naveen-ul-Haq dealt a significant blow to MI by dismissing their captain and opener, Rohit Sharma, early in the game.
The young seamer’s excitement was palpable as he celebrated the prized wicket. Displaying a gesture of fingers on the ears, Naveen-ul-Haq seemingly aimed to convey his ability to block out external distractions and trolling, as if telling the RCB fans that he was unfazed by their taunts.
The genesis of this intense rivalry can be traced back to an on-field altercation between Naveen-ul-Haq and Virat Kohli in Lucknow at the beginning of the month.
This dramatic incident spilled over onto social media, with both players engaging in a war of words through Instagram stories, further fueling the frenzy among fans.
Chants of “Kohli Kohli” and Fans’ Involvement
In the past three weeks, regardless of the venue, whether it be Kolkata, Hyderabad, or even Lucknow, fans have united in chanting “Kohli Kohli” to taunt and tease Naveen-ul-Haq.
These passionate supporters have not only cheered for RCB to reach the playoffs due to their love for Kohli but also because they desired to witness another enthralling chapter in the LSG vs. RCB saga.
The prospect of Kohli squaring off against Naveen-ul-Haq and Gautam Gambhir once more has added an element of excitement and anticipation to the rivalry.
Implications of Naveen-ul-Haq’s Gesture
Naveen-ul-Haq’s celebratory gesture following Rohit Sharma’s dismissal has added an intriguing twist to the ongoing drama.
While it may have endeared him to LSG supporters, it has potentially turned him into a villain in the eyes of Mumbai Indians’ fans as well.
As emotions run high, the atmosphere surrounding Naveen-ul-Haq’s performances has become even more electrifying, leading to an intense clash between supporters of different franchises.
Naveen-ul-Haq’s Performance In The Eliminator
Naveen performed brilliantly in the eliminator, taking four wickets for 38 runs. However, his team went on to lose the match and unfortunately kicked out of the tournament.
Naveen adjusted his bowling lengths well on the MA Chidambaram pitch and used varied pace to get big wickets of Rohit Sharma, Suryakumar Yadav, Cameron Green and Tilak Varma.