ICC World Cup 2023: Virat Kohli hugs rival Naveen-ul-Haq, wins fans heart with kind gesture

Indian cricket superstar Virat Kohli showed his big heart during the ICC World Cup 2023 match 9, India vs Afghanistan, in New Delhi on Wednesday (October 11) as the 34-year-old batter was seen bridging the gap with Afghan pacer and old foe Naveen-Ul-Haq.

Afghanistan pacer Naveen-Ul-Haq has been facing the ire of the Indian fans since arriving at Arun Jaitley Stadium before the game as fans have been chanting Kohli's name or jeering Naveen every time the pacer made an appearance on the field.

The rivalry started earlier this year when Naveen-Ul-Haq, featuring for Lucknow Super Giants, had an onfield-spat with Virat Kohli during their match against Royal Challengers Bangalore in IPL 2023. The Afghan cricketer accused Virat Kohli of making lewd gestures while the spat continued on social media between the two cricketers.

Wednesday's India vs Afghanistan match at the World Cup 2023 was the first time the two came across on the field since the infamous incident and the Afghan learned it hard way that fans in India were never going to be kind to him.

However, Virat Kohli soon showed his soft side and urged fans not to boo his rival while hugging him out in the middle of the pitch in a never-seen-before incident on the cricket ground. The images of the two cricketers hugging each other soon went viral online.

As far as the match was concerned, India defeated Afghanistan by eight wickets and 90 balls to spare as Rohit Sharma slammed an 84-ball 131 to help India chase a target of 272 at a canter. Virat Kohli contributed with his 68th half-century in the format as well while Jasprit Bumrah's 4-39, his best bowling figure in a 50-over World Cup restricted Afghans at 271/8.

With the win, India have won their first two games in the ICC World Cup 2023 by big margins to put themselves at an advantage in the race for the top four or the semifinal spots.