‘That’s the world we live in’: Travis Head breaks silence on wife’s online abuse after Virat Kohli shakes hands

Travis Head and Virat Kohli (ANI Photo) NEW DELHI: Australian batsman Travis Head spoke publicly for the first time on the controversy surrounding Virat Kohli during the IPL 2026 match between Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) and Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB). The incident gained attention after cameras emerged showing RCB star Kohli shaking hands with the SRH head after the match, leading to speculation of a rift between the two cricketers.However, Head dismissed the rumours, saying there was no issue to be addressed.“I don’t think there’s anything to gloss over. That’s just the way it is. It is. No surprises with how the competition went or what happened. So as expected,” Head told Code Sports.

Family affected by online abuse

The controversy took a personal turn when Head’s wife Jessica Davies revealed she had received abusive messages from fans on social media. Head admitted that the internet backlash was difficult, especially for his family, although he believes that such attention is part of being a professional athlete.“I think Jessica and I have a great perspective on things. That’s the world we live in and I think she’s wonderful in the way she deals with things like that. It was more of a family thing that was built around that and flowed to other family members who don’t particularly see things like that,” he said.Head also praised his wife for staying calm during the episode, adding: “Everybody forgets about it in a few days. She handled it extremely well. It’s probably coping with others and what other people’s perspective is on how things are.”Meanwhile, Kohli’s Royal Challengers Bengaluru successfully defended their IPL title by defeating Gujarat Titans in the 2026 final in Ahmedabad.