Surprisingly, during the most recent India-Afghanistan 2023 World Cup match, Naveen-ul-Haq, the Afghan bowler most known for his heated confrontations with Virat Kohli during the IPL 2023, reached out and praised Kohli for being a "nice guy" and his sportsmanship.

Their widely documented rivalry has come to an end thanks to this surprising act of brotherhood, which has cricket fans interested and cheering for their newfound mutual respect.

During IPL 2023, the rivalry between Virat Kohli and Naveen-ul-Haq erupted. A heated argument between the Lucknow Super Giants and Royal Challengers Bangalore made headlines, and the handshakes that followed the game were tense to the core.

Dramatic meetings ensued following the match as a result of Naveen's comments during Kohli's batting innings, which stoked more hostilities. The cricket world was agog with this explosive encounter.

Naveen Ul Haq said, "Virat Kohli is a very good player. We both shook hands, whatever happened on the field, stays inside the field only. We both shook hands and said let's finish this". pic.twitter.com/KlaoeMDfGD

— Mufaddal Vohra (@mufaddal_vohra) October 11, 2023

The "Kohli Kohli" Chants: Fans' Verdict

The brunt of the anger directed on Naveen-ul-Haq came from Indian fans, who sang "Kohli Kohli" nonstop whenever he stepped onto the pitch.

This was evident even during the World Cup match in Delhi, the homeland of Kohli, where fans were enthused just by Naveen's presence. Fans of cricket expected fireworks when these two foes faced each other again on the pitch.

No Kohli fans pass without liking this video💜❤️😊
It's called Bromance 😍
🥭🆚👑 is now 🥭🤝👑 #INDvAFG #ViratKohli #NaveenUlHaq #RohitSharma𓃵 #WorldCup2023
pic.twitter.com/IFYJjMIPTZ

— Andleeb Akhtar 🇮🇳 (@mr_akhtar_17) October 12, 2023

The Unexpected Gesture: A Handshake That Melted Hearts

Cricket fans saw a touching incident during the India-Afghanistan World Cup match at the Arun Jaitley Stadium in New Delhi.

Virat Kohli and Naveen-ul-Haq shook hands amicably after Rohit Sharma was dismissed, indicating the end of their feud. Witnesses were in a state of amazement at that moment.

Naveen's Praise for Kohli: A Class Act

Naveen-ul-Haq was ready to compliment Virat Kohli following the game. He described him as "a nice guy" and admitted that he was a very good cricket player. Naveen underlined that their disagreements did not extend to their personal life; rather, they were limited to the cricket pitch.

In an effort to get more followers, he also questioned the media's propensity to sensationalise their fight.

The Echoes of 2019: ICC Spirit of the Year Award

It's important to remember that Kohli has already demonstrated sportsmanship. He implored the fans to cheer for Steve Smith at the 2019 World Cup instead of making fun of him after the ball-tampering controversy, and for that action he was awarded the ICC Spirit of the Year Award.

Kohli's reputation as a great sportsman is further cemented by Naveen-ul-Haq's praise of his recent acts.

Bowling's Future and Naveen's Retirement from ODIs

After the World Cup, Naveen-ul-Haq, who is only 24 years old, has made the decision to retire from ODI cricket. He voiced his worries about the ODI format's bat-ball ratio, raising the possibility that more bowlers may choose to play T20 cricket instead of ODIs. 

Power-hitting batsmen control the majority of the game, therefore bowlers are facing new difficulties.

The cricketing world was caught off guard by Naveen-ul-Haq and Virat Kohli's unanticipated act of sportsmanship at the 2023 World Cup. Along with his decision to end his ODI career, Naveen's admiration for Kohli's qualities and demeanour adds complexity to this fascinating period in cricket history.

As supporters, all we can do is hope that this newfound friendship endures and becomes a model of sportsmanship in the cricket community.