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Since Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) pacer Naveen-ul-Haq got involved in a heated exchange with former Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) captain Virat Kohli, the Afghanistan pacer has been targetted with relentless chants of 'Kohli, Kohli' across venues. Even in the LSG's Eliminator game against Mumbai Indians (MI) on May 24 (Wednesday) at MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai, Naveen was heckled by the crowd. The right-arm pacer responded to the fans why putting two fingers in both his ears whenever he picked a wicket.
After LSG and Naveen's Indian Premier League (IPL) 2023 campaign came to an end, the right-arm pacer opened up about dealing with 'Kohli, Kohli' chants. Naveen stated that the heckling doesn't deter him from his goals and only fuels him to do well for his team.
"I enjoy it (chanting)," Naveen said in the post-match press conference.
"I like that everybody on the ground is chanting his name or any other player's name. It gives me passion to play well for my team.
"I don't concentrate on the outside noise. I just focus on my own cricket. It's not like if the crowd is chanting or anyone is saying something... it doesn't affect me. As professional sportsmen, you have to take it in your stride. One day you will not do your best for the team and these fans are going to give it to you. On another day, you'll do a special thing for your team and the same people are going to chant your name," Naveen added.
Naveen bowled an excellent spell against MI on Wednesday but his effort went in vain. The right-arm pacer finished with figures of 4/38 in four overs. Despite his commendable display with the ball, Krunal Pandya's men choked under pressure while chasing the target and ended up losing the game by a huge margin of 81 runs.
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IPL 2023 eliminator: Akash Madhwal's power-packed maiden fifer delivers knockout punch to LSG, MI advance to qualifier with massive 81-run win
