“Virat Kohli shouldn’t have said those words” Naveen-ul-Haq said that Kohli started the fight.

The visuals of the ugly spat between Virat Kohli and Gautam Gambhir, including Naveen-ul-Haq, in the IPL 2023 are still fresh in the minds of Indiana cricket fans, and the clear reason behind the ugly visuals on the field hasn’t been discussed by any of the three players involved so far. But recently, Naveen-ul-Haq revealed something that can quench the thirst of those who want to know the reason behind the verbal brawl. While talking to BCC, Pastho Naveen-ul-Haq said

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,”

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,”

Naveen-ul-Haq on BBC Pashto

Virat Kohli during the IPL 2023 before the verbal spat with Lucknow Super Giants players and Coach Gautam Gambhir made headlines after he and Saurav Ganguly didn’t shake hands post-match, and after that, he and Gautam Gambhir during the post-match handshake moment got into the verbal spat, and the visuals were not good as watching two Indian players having a fight is not something any Indian cricket fan wants to see.