Naveen-ul-Haq has been making waves in IPL 2023, capturing attention not only with his impressive bowling but also with his ability to get under the skin of cricketers and fans alike. Making his debut for Lucknow Super Giants, Naveen has already taken 11 wickets in 8 matches. His memorable clash with Virat Kohli during a league match against Royal Challengers Bangalore ignited the spotlight on him. Since then, he has managed to stay in the limelight through his social media posts and unique celebrations following his wickets and catches.
During the IPL 2023 Eliminator between LSG and MI, Naveen showcased his talent with the ball, dismissing Rohit Sharma, Suryakumar Yadav, Cameron Green, and Tilak Varma. His figures of 4/38 in four overs were commendable. However, his efforts fell short as MI’s Akash Madhwal stole the show with an exceptional performance, claiming 5 wickets for just 5 runs. MI secured a resounding 81-run victory at Chepauk, advancing to Qualifier 2.
Aside from his bowling prowess, Naveen entertained the crowd with his finger-to-the-ears celebrations. However, his “sweet mangoes” Instagram story turned into a haunting memory following LSG’s defeat in the Eliminator. Mumbai Indians players Vishnu Vinod, Sandeep Warrier, and Kimar Kartikeya indirectly mocked Naveen by posing as the three wise monkeys with mangoes placed in front of them.
They captioned the photo with “Sweet season of mangoes.” Although the photo was later deleted, screenshots had already gone viral on social media. It was clear that Warrier, Kartikeya, and Vinod were taking a dig at Naveen for his previous Instagram story featuring mangoes after Kohli’s dismissal in the match against RCB, as well as another story after MI’s victory against RCB.
Mumbai Indian players ðŸ¥ðŸ˜‚🤣
— IHD Fantasy Prediction (@FantasyIhd) May 24, 2023
What goes around, comes around ðŸ¥#LSGvMI #naveenulhaq #naveen_ul_haq #naven #MumbaiIndians pic.twitter.com/KVeAdwxxTA
In terms of the match itself, MI batted first and posted a total of 182/8 on the board, with contributions from Cameron Green (41), Suryakumar Yadav (33), and Nehal Wadhera (23). LSG was eventually dismissed for 101 in 16.3 overs, with Akash Madhwal’s exceptional bowling figures of 5/5 in 3.3 overs. Marcus Stoinis top-scored with 40 runs.
Unfortunately, Naveen’s journey in this year’s IPL comes to an end as LSG has been eliminated from the tournament. Nevertheless, the 23-year-old from Afghanistan has undoubtedly left a lasting impact on the world’s most lucrative cricket league.