Aussie Cricket Star Travis Head Faces Online Abuse
Travis Head, an Australian cricket star, and his family have been subjected to severe online abuse following a tense on-field exchange with Indian cricket legend Virat Kohli. The incident occurred during the Indian Premier League (IPL) when Head’s Sunrisers Hyderabad team defeated Kohli’s Royal Challengers Bengaluru. While the match itself was competitive, it was the post-match interaction that sparked controversy.
During the game, Kohli was seen exchanging words with Head while he was batting. After the match, Head attempted to shake Kohli’s hand, but the veteran player reportedly snubbed him and walked away. This moment quickly became a focal point for fans and critics alike, leading to a surge of online negativity directed at Head and his family.
The abuse escalated rapidly, with Head and his wife Jess finding their social media accounts flooded with comments from Kohli supporters. Some messages were particularly vile, including threats of rape and violence aimed at the Adelaide couple and their extended family. One comment read, “Your father is King Kohli,” while others were far more sinister.
Jess Head shared her distress with The Adelaide Advertiser, stating, “It feels like a repeat of the abuse that happened after the World Cup.” She described waking up to a flood of negative messages, emphasizing that while she and Travis are fine, the attacks are targeting their friends and family.
This isn’t the first time Jess has faced such abuse. She mentioned that she received similar threatening messages following Australia’s matches against India in the 2023 World Test Championship final, the ODI World Cup, and during the Test matches of India’s 2024-25 tour in Australia.
In a bid to show unity and positivity, both Travis and Jess posted a touching photo of them embracing their young daughter on Instagram, accompanied by a single love heart emoji. The gesture was a clear attempt to counter the negativity surrounding them.
Former Indian cricketer Wasim Jaffer commented on the incident, expressing his belief that Kohli acted inappropriately. “We don’t know the depth of what happened,” Jaffer said on his YouTube channel, according to The Times of India. “At least he should have shaken hands. That thing should end on the ground. Then you have to shake hands and move on. You should not carry it.”
Jaffer also emphasized that Kohli, as an ambassador of the game, should set a positive example for millions of fans. “Kohli is too big a player to be doing this,” he added.
Despite the controversy, the Royal Challengers Bengaluru managed to achieve their goal of finishing atop the Indian Premier League table. They lost the match by 55 runs but secured their position based on net run rate. As a result, they will host Gujarat Titans in the first playoff on Wednesday, with the winner advancing directly to the June 1 final in Ahmedabad.
