Travis Head and his wife Jessica have been subjected to online abuse after the Australian cricketer got into a heated argument with India great Virat Kohli during the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026 match.
The incident happened during Friday’s T20 clash between Head’s Sunrisers Hyderabad and Kohli’s Royal Challengers Bangalore. Heated words were exchanged before Kohli was dismissed for 15 runs and his team eventually lost by 55 runs.
At the end of the match, during the customary handshake, Kohli reportedly ignored Head’s outstretched hand but congratulated the other players.
Following the match, both Head and Jessica’s Instagram accounts were flooded with abusive comments from the former Indian captain’s supporters.
Jessica told The Advertiser that friends and family have been targeted by hateful personal messages.
“I woke up to my communities exploding… we’re fine but they’re attacking my friends and family,” Jessica said.
“Passion will always be part of the game, but remembering that there are real people and families behind the game.”
“It encourages more kindness and support for each other,” he added.
Referring to Australia’s defeat of India in the final of the 2023 50-over tournament in Ahmedabad, he said he felt he was “repeating the abuse that happened after the World Cup”.
Neither Head nor Kohli have publicly commented on the incident, while the IPL has yet to issue any official statement regarding the online abuse to players’ families.