Lucknow Super Giants were defeated by Mumbai Indians with a margin of 81 runs in the IPL 2023 Eliminator on Wednesday, May 24. A lot of social media users mocked pacer Naveen-ul-Haq using the term “mangoes.”
LSG were eliminated from the IPL 2023 following a poor performance in the playoff match at Chennai’s MA Chidambaram Stadium. Mumbai Indians batted first and posted a respectable 182/8 in 20 overs. In response, the Lucknow Super Giants were bowled out for 101 in 16.3 overs, with pacer Akash Madhwal taking 5/5.
Following LSG’s loss to MI, social media was ablaze with trolls mocking Naveen-ul-Haq’s fondness for “mangoes.” The mango reference went viral when the fast bowler appeared to mock Virat Kohli after he got out for 1 in an IPL 2023 match against Mumbai Indians.
Naveen-ul-Haq posted a social media image with the phrase “sweet mangoes” shortly after Kohli’s dismissal. Users assumed the message was aimed at Kohli, with whom he had a verbal spat during LSG’s match against RCB in Lucknow on May 1.
Just before the Mumbai Indians won against Bangalore, Naveen shared another Instagram story with the caption:
“Round 2 with these. One of the best mangoes I’ve ever had thanks @dhaval_parab bhai.”
Mumbai defeated Bangalore by six wickets in match 54 of the IPL 2023.
MI players’ indirect ‘mangoes’ dig at Naveen-ul-Haq
After the IPL 2023 Eliminator, not just Kohli fans but also MI took an indirect shot at Afghanistan’s fast bowler.
Mumbai Indians players Sandeep Warrier, Kumar Kartikeya, and Vishnu Vinod appeared in a cheeky photo on a dining table with mangoes in a social media post that was later deleted.
Sandeep and Vishnu posted the photo on their Instagram account with the caption:
“Sweet season of mangoes”
While Sandeep and Vishnu eventually deleted the post, a Twitter user screenshotted it and shared it on his social media account.
The sweet mangoes! pic.twitter.com/HDVxde926T
— MI Fans Army™ (@MIFansArmy) May 24, 2023
Naveen-ul-Haq’s IPL franchise responded with a funny post about the cricketer’s taunting. The franchise turned to Twitter and published a screenshot, claiming that the phrases mango, mangoes, sweet, aam, and mango emoji had been muted.
Issued in our interest ???????? pic.twitter.com/e1Jn9gWATn
— Lucknow Super Giants (@LucknowIPL) May 24, 2023
Naveen grabbed 4/38 with the ball to keep MI under 185. However, his efforts were for nothing as LSG’s batting collapsed against Madhwal.