Within a few days, Afghanistan’s bowler Naveen ul Haq went from being a divisive character to a hometown hero, winning over the devoted supporters of Virat Kohli at Delhi’s Arun Jaitley Stadium. The tide shifted for Naveen, who faced considerable criticism during India’s World Cup 2023 match against Afghanistan last week, as he buried the hatchet with Indian batting sensation Virat Kohli. The feud, rooted in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2023 season earlier in the year, has now found closure.

The embrace between Naveen and Kohli followed India’s dominant eight-wicket triumph over Afghanistan at the Arun Jaitley Stadium in Delhi just last Wednesday. The atmosphere in Delhi took a warmer turn on Sunday during Afghanistan’s third match in the World Cup 2023, as they faced off against reigning champions England.

Afghanistan etched their names in history on Sunday, clinching their inaugural ODI World Cup victory, stunning Jos Buttler’s England by an impressive 69 runs. Naveen played a pivotal role, securing a crucial 1/44, including the prized wicket of England’s skipper, Jos Buttler, who was cleanly bowled for a mere 9 runs. The spirited support for Naveen from the Delhi crowd reverberated across social media platforms, with a video capturing the fervor going viral.