Watch: Lucknow crowd's 'Kohli, Kohli' chants haunt Naveen-ul-Haq as Rohit Sharma smashes six during LSG vs MI match

In a dramatic turn of events at the Ekana Stadium, Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) pacer Naveen-ul-Haq found himself at the centre of attention once again, thanks to the relentless "Kohli, Kohli" chants from the crowd. Naveen's last appearance on the cricket field had been on May 1, during a fiery clash against the Royal Challengers Bangalore, where he was involved in a heated spat with the iconic Virat Kohli.

As Naveen returned to action after a two-week hiatus, he initially put up a decent show against the formidable Mumbai Indians (MI) but faltered in the penultimate over, conceding 19 runs. Despite the criticism, Naveen survived as teammate Mohsin Khan held his nerves in the final over to defend 10 runs, securing a narrow win for LSG and keeping their playoff hopes alive.

The Lucknow crowd, however, had not forgotten the intense showdown between Naveen and Kohli from that fateful encounter on May 1. Rather than backing their star pacer, they took the opportunity to tease him when LSG captain Krunal Pandya handed him the new ball. The chants of "Kohli, Kohli" echoed through the stadium as Naveen prepared to bowl.

Here's the video: 

Lucknow crowd Teases Naveen ul haq with KOHLI KOHLI chants.🔥pic.twitter.com/oAGBrCbTVD

— Lokesh Saini (@LokeshViraat18K) May 17, 2023

Amidst the electrifying atmosphere, Rohit Sharma, the captain of MI, stepped up and showcased his prowess by smashing Naveen for a sensational six over square leg. The crowd's taunting chants didn't seem to faze Sharma as he delivered a powerful shot, leaving the Lucknow spectators in awe.

These chants from the Lucknow crowd were a reminder of the heated exchange between Kohli and Naveen during their previous encounter. Allegedly, Kohli had left Naveen infuriated by pointing towards the dirt on his shoes during batting. The incident had escalated, with Naveen's teammate Amit Mishra complaining to the umpires, and even Glenn Maxwell having to intervene to separate the feuding players. The tension had extended beyond the players, as Kohli found himself in a spat with LSG mentor Gautam Gambhir as well.

While Naveen may not have been in the playing XI since that eventful match, his cheeky Instagram posts kept him in the news, leading fans to speculate that he was indirectly targeting Kohli through his updates.

In the end, despite the crowd's taunts and Naveen's mixed performance, LSG managed to secure a crucial victory, thanks to Mohsin's brilliant final over. The "Kohli, Kohli" chants will remain a vivid memory of the intense rivalry that unfolded between Naveen-ul-Haq and Virat Kohli, a clash that stirred emotions and captivated cricket enthusiasts throughout the country.