Overview
- Travis Head and Virat Kohli exchanged heated words during the SRH v RCB match on May 22, and post-match footage showing Kohli walking past Head as he offered a handshake quickly circulated online.
- The short viral clip triggered a surge of abusive comments and private messages aimed at Head, his wife Jessica and the couple’s friends and family, according to interviews and social media reports.
- Jessica Head told The Advertiser she “woke up to my socials blasting” and said the backlash felt like a repeat of the severe abuse the family faced after Australia beat India in the 2023 World Cup.
- Jessica urged fans to show more kindness and warned about mental-health harms to players and relatives, while commentators and former players have publicly called for better on-field decorum.
- Both teams remain in the IPL playoffs so another meeting could renew attention to the episode, and cricket bodies including Cricket Australia say they provide guidance and support for players and families dealing with online trolling.