Australian opener Travis Head and his wife Jessica Head have once again found themselves at the centre of online abuse from sections of Indian cricket fans after a tense moment involving Virat Kohli during the 2026 IPL season. The incident unfolded after Sunrisers Hyderabad defeated Royal Challengers Bengaluru in a high-profile clash, when an animated on-field exchange between Kohli and Head quickly went viral on social media.
Jessica Head revealed that the criticism soon crossed the line, with abusive messages targeting not only the players but also their close friends and family members. Speaking to the Australian media outlet *The Advertiser*, she said the online hostility reminded her of the aftermath of Australia’s recent victories over India.
ALSO READ: “This Mumbai Indians team felt a bit strange” – R Ashwin
“It feels like a repeat of the abuse that happened after the World Cup,” Jessica said, adding that her social media accounts were flooded with hateful comments overnight. She also claimed that family members and friends were dragged into the controversy despite having no connection to the on-field incident.
#ViratKohli 🆚 #TravisHead 🥵🤯
Tensions rise in high voltage clash🔥#TATAIPL Race to Playoffs 2026 👉 #SRHvRCB | LIVE NOW ➡️https://t.co/52qPTW2gSO pic.twitter.com/JOiWaxNW6T
— Star Sports (@StarSportsIndia) May 22, 2026
According to Jessica, similar harassment followed Australia’s triumphs in the 2023 ODI World Cup final, the World Test Championship final and the 2024 Boxing Day Test. She added that previous incidents even included disturbing threats aimed at their young daughter.
Stressing the need for responsible behaviour online, Jessica urged fans to remember the human side of professional sport and highlighted the growing importance of conversations around mental health and respect.
WATCH – Abishek Porel Denies Kuldeep Yadav A Dream Hat-Trick in DC vs KKR Clash
The latest drama began during RCB’s run chase when Kohli and Head exchanged words in the middle. Reports suggested Head encouraged Kohli to attack more aggressively, prompting a sarcastic response from the former RCB skipper. Tensions escalated further after Kohli’s dismissal, and the situation gained even more attention when Kohli appeared to ignore Head’s handshake during the post-match greetings.
