CWC 2023: “Naveen-ul-Haq vs Virat Kohli will be an interesting matchup,” Robin Uthappa ahead of India-Afghanistan clash

Naveen and Kohli were involved in a heated altercation during the IPL 2023 season.

By Salman Anjum - 11 Oct, 2023

Team India are all set to take on Afghanistan in their second World Cup 2023 match at Arun Jaitley Stadium, Delhi on Wednesday (October 11).

Ahead of the fixture, the rivalry between Virat Kohli and Naveen-ul-Haq has become the talk of the town all over again. The duo was involved in a heated altercation during the IPL 2023 season.

Speaking on his YouTube channel, former India batter Robin Uthappa has said that it would be fascinating to see the mini battles between India and Afghanistan players.

"Mujeeb Ur Rahman against Rohit Sharma and Ishan Kishan will be one. Fazalhaq Farooqi against India's top-order. Naveen-ul-Haq vs Virat Kohli will be an interesting matchup. They have had a history, but it's good to see them going head-to-head against each other. I would like to see Rashid Khan vs KL Rahul as well," Uthappa stated.

India opener Shubman Gill is down with dengue fever and didn’t feature in the team’s World Cup opener against Australia at Chepauk on October 8.

Gill hasn’t travelled to Delhi with his teammates and will miss the Afghanistan clash as well. While the 24-year-old is on the right path of recovery, there is no clarity over his comeback yet.

Uthappa expressed his sympathy for Gill while highlighting the adverse impact dengue can have on the human body.

"We are hoping he recovers quickly and returns to the team. However, it isn't easy to make a comeback after suffering from dengue. I have gone through it myself, and it does get a bit difficult physically. We are hoping that it hasn't affected his body a lot. When you recover from dengue, you experience some pain in your bones," he remarked.

After the Afghanistan match, India are due to take on arch-rivals Pakistan at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad on October 14.

By Salman Anjum - 11 Oct, 2023

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