Australian batter Travis Head and his wife Jessica Head have once again been subjected to online abuse from sections of Indian cricket fans following a heated on-field exchange with Virat Kohli during IPL 2026.
The controversy erupted after Sunrisers Hyderabad’s emphatic victory over Royal Challengers Bengaluru, with a viral interaction between Kohli and Head triggering intense reactions across social media.
According to Jessica Head, the backlash quickly escalated beyond criticism of the players, with abusive messages also targeting close friends and family members.
“It feels like a repeat of the abuse that happened after the World Cup,” she told Australian media outlet The Advertiser.
“I woke up to my socials blasting… we are fine but they are attacking my friends and family.”
Jessica revealed that this was not an isolated incident. Similar online harassment followed Australia’s major victories over India in recent years, including the 2023 ODI World Cup final, the World Test Championship final, and the 2024 Boxing Day Test. She added that the abuse had previously included disturbing threats directed at their young daughter.
Calling for greater responsibility from fans online, Jessica stressed the importance of empathy and respectful behaviour in sport.
“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,” she said.
“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.”
What Happened Between Kohli And Head?
The latest controversy began during RCB’s chase against SRH when Kohli and Head exchanged words in the middle. Head had reportedly encouraged Kohli to play more attacking cricket, prompting a sarcastic response from the former RCB captain, who asked the Australian to bowl himself despite being used as an Impact Player.
After Kohli’s dismissal, Head appeared to make another remark, further intensifying the exchange between the two players.
The incident drew even more attention after the match when Head attempted to shake Kohli’s hand during the customary greetings, only for Kohli to walk past him while greeting other SRH players.
