‘Karma right on face’ Naveen-ul-Haq on LSG’s IPL 2023 dream shattered by MI

Afghanistan fast bowler Naveen-ul-Haq found himself a victim of social media trolls after his team, Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) were ousted from the Indian Premier League 2023. In an emphatic 81-run defeat at Chepauk. Despite Naveen’s commendable four-wicket haul against the five-time champions in the Eliminator, LSG could not avoid a disappointing exit.

Naveen had already hit headlines for his heated exchange with Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) skipper Virat Kohli during a league match. The Chepauk crowd booed Naveen relentlessly, but he managed to silence some of the critics by dismissing key Mumbai Indians batsmen like Rohit Sharma, Suryakumar Yadav, Cameron Green and Tilak Verma.

However, the Twitterverse unleashed their fury on Naveen, and the reason behind the reaction was his recent social media activities. The pacer took a smart dig at RCB after they were knocked out of the playoff race. Seeso posted a video on social media to mock RCB and Virat Kohli after their loss to Gujarat Titans in the last league stage match of this season. This act seems to have drawn the ire of fans, who wasted no time trolling Naveen after LSG’s IPL 2023 exit.

The brawl between Naveen and Kohli started with an on-field altercation during the match. The Afghanistan pacer also had a heated exchange with Kohli during the post-match formalities, which escalated when LSG’s mentor Gautam Gambhir confronted the RCB skipper. The controversy became a talking point among fans and added fuel to Naveen’s image.

Sweet mangoes for LSG and Naveen Ul Haq from VK fans : Mangoes :: Boom :#LSGvMI #LSGvsMI pic.twitter.com/MIYTAXhB2h

– Dwarkesh Dhfm: hot_pepper: (@DhfmDwarakesh) May 24, 2023

Naveen-ul-Haq made fun of Virat for scoring the most runs, yet the team was out.
Today, he was the highest wicket-taker from the LSG side and the team was eliminated.
Karma’s right on the face!!!#LSGvMI #newulhook #MIvsLSG #rcb pic.twitter.com/KKjruNlDE2

— Najmul Alom (@NazmulAlom850) May 24, 2023

pic.twitter.com/Db49qj32DX

— Zomato (@zomato) May 24, 2023

Naveen-ul-Haq and the LSG Trophy pic.twitter.com/mTuTc77mXK

– VK and Bobby Stein (@ManhajEvo) May 24, 2023

In the crucial eliminator match, Naveen showcased his bowling with figures of four for 37, instilling a sense of caution in the Mumbai Indians’ batting lineup. However, LSG’s chase crumbled as Akash Madhwal left the chase with five wickets. Naveen’s well-executed variations, especially the slower delivery that deceived Suryakumar Yadav and Cameron Green, revived LSG’s hopes in an instant. However, a miscommunication between Naveen and Deepak Hooda resulted in a run out, costing LSG the wicket of Hooda and further denting their chances.

Ultimately, Naveen-ul-Haq’s eventful journey in IPL 2023 ended on a disappointing note, with his team being ousted from the tournament. The Twitter backlash triggered by his social media activities and earlier controversies only added to the frustration of the young Afghan pacer. As he reflects on this experience, Naveen will reflect on the lessons learned and the need for better judgment as he moves forward in his cricket career, both on and off the field.