Australia opener Travis Head has finally addressed the much-discussed on-field exchange with Virat Kohli during the TATA IPL 2026, insisting there is no lingering animosity between the two despite the incident generating widespread attention. The flashpoint occurred during the league-stage clash between Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) and Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB), where a heated moment between the star batters was followed by an awkward post-match handshake.
The incident unfolded at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium in Hyderabad after Kohli and Head exchanged words while RCB were chasing SRH’s daunting target of 256. During the middle of the innings, Kohli reportedly challenged the Australian to “come and bowl” following a verbal exchange between the two players.
Travis Head, speaking to Code Sports, chose not to reveal the exact details of the conversation but made it clear that he does not view the incident as a feud. “I don’t think there’s anything to patch over,” Head said. “That’s just what it is. That’s yeah. No surprises with how the competition went or what went on. So as expected,” he added.
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The tension appeared to carry into the post-match handshake. After Kohli was dismissed for 15, Head reportedly joked that the Indian star had been out before he even got the opportunity to bowl. When the customary handshakes took place after SRH’s 55-run victory, Head extended his hand, but Kohli walked past without acknowledging the gesture, sparking widespread debate among fans on social media.
While the on-field moment quickly became one of the talking points of IPL 2026, Head admitted the bigger challenge came from the online abuse directed at his family. His wife, Jessica Davies, later revealed that the criticism and personal attacks on social media were emotionally draining, not only for her but also for those close to the family.
Travis Head has broken his silence on the impact of his much publicised run-in with Virat Kohli, most recently in the IPL.
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Reflecting on the episode, Head said he and Jessica have learned to deal with public scrutiny as part of life in professional sport. However, he acknowledged that the abuse affected family members who were unfamiliar with such attention.
“I think Jessica and I have a great perspective on things. That’s the world we live in, and I think she’s amazing in how she handles that kind of stuff. It was more the family stuff was built around it, flowing on to other family members who don’t particularly see that sort of stuff,” Travis Head said.
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“Everyone forgets about it in a few days’ time. She handled it extremely well. It’s probably handling it with others and what other people’s perspective of what things are like,” he added.
Head’s comments are likely to draw a line under one of the most talked-about incidents of IPL 2026, with the Australian opener making it clear that, from his perspective, there is no bad blood with Kohli. Instead, he believes such competitive moments are simply part of elite-level cricket, even if the reaction away from the field can sometimes overshadow what happens on it.
