Travis Head's Wife Openly Calls Out Virat Kohli Fans For Online Abuse

Travis Head and Virat Kohli [Source: AFP and Instagram]

Australia star cricketer Travis Head and his wife Jessica once again became targets of online abuse after a tense moment during the IPL 2026 match between Sunrisers Hyderabad and Royal Challengers Bengaluru on May 22.

The match took place at the Rajiv Gandhi International Cricket Stadium, where Hyderabad defeated Bengaluru by 55 runs. During the game, Travis Head and Virat Kohli were involved in a heated verbal exchange that quickly became a major topic on social media.

What Happened Between Virat Kohli And Travis Head?

The incident started during the opening overs of Bengaluru’s innings. Kohli appeared to gesture toward Travis Head, who was fielding at mid-wicket. 

Many viewers felt Kohli was mockingly asking Head to bowl. Shortly after, Kohli was also seen motioning Head away during another moment on the field.

Later in the game, Head came in to bowl during the 18th over. He made an immediate impact after dismissing Bengaluru captain Rajat Patidar with only his second delivery.

The tension continued later in the innings when Kohli and Head crossed paths again while field placements were changing. Cameras appeared to capture another exchange of words between the two players.

After the match ended, another moment caught public attention. A viral video seemed to show Kohli walking past Head during the post-match handshakes. 

Travis Head extended his hand, while Kohli greeted players like Pat Cummins and Abhishek Sharma before moving ahead without acknowledging Head.

Also Read: Virat Kohli Fans Abuse Travis Scott For Travis Head, Other IPL Team Fans React

Travis Head's Wife Jessica Head Speaks About Online Abuse

Soon after the incident, several users on social media started sending abusive messages to Travis Head and his wife Jessica. Many comments were posted under their old wedding photographs. Some users even dragged family members and friends into the situation.

Speaking to Australian media outlet The Advertiser, Jessica shared her disappointment over the abuse.

“It feels like a repeat of the abuse that happened after the World Cup. I woke up to my socials blasting... we are fine but they are attacking my friends and family."

This is not the first time Jessica has faced such online attacks. Similar incidents reportedly happened after Australia defeated India in the 2023 World Cup final and the World Test Championship final. 

Reports also mentioned threats involving rape and kidnapping during that period. Another wave of abuse reportedly followed Australia’s victory in the 2024 Boxing Day Test. Jessica also spoke about the need for kindness in sports culture.

“I think across all sports at the moment there’s an important conversation around mental health, perspective and the way we speak to one another. Passion will always be part of sport, but so is remembering there are real people and families behind the game. Hopefully this encourages more kindness and support for one another,” She said.

Rajgeeta’s Views On Fan Behaviour

Sports rivalries often create emotional reactions among fans. At the same time, personal attacks against families and friends should never become part of the discussion. Players compete on the field, whereas their loved ones are not involved in those situations.

Interestingly, even Virat Kohli’s wife Anushka Sharma had earlier faced online abuse after India’s loss in the 2015 World Cup semifinal. Such incidents show that toxic fan behaviour affects many people across different teams and countries.

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