Virat Kohli vs Travis Head handshake controversy: What happened and timeline of heated moments during SRH vs RCB match originally appeared on Cricket News.
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KEY TAKEAWAYS:
- Virat Kohli got involved in a war of words with Travis Head during RCB’s 256-run chase against SRH.
- He snubbed Head’s handshake after the post-match defeat.
- RCB lost by 55 runs but still claimed the top spot on net run rate.
Virat Kohli’s heated exchange with Travis Head and the handshake that wasn’t
Virat Kohli and Travis Head exchanged a few verbal barbs in the early overs of Royal Challengers Bengaluru’s chase of 256 runs in Hyderabad on Friday evening.
During the third over, while Venkatesh Iyer was tearing into the SRH bowling, particularly targeting Shivang Kumar, Kohli turned to Head and got involved in an exchange of words.
With pointed gestures, Kohli appeared to be goading the Australian to come and bowl, mimicking the Impact Player signal, as the Australian has spent much of this season coming on as a substitute rather than playing a full fielding role.
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However, on the night, SRH had brought in Harshal Patel in place of Salil Arora, which kept Head in the playing eleven and in Kohli’s line of sight.
#ViratKohli 🆚 #TravisHead 🥵🤯
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Kohli’s aggression on the field did not translate into runs. He walked out to bat with RCB desperately needing a strong start, but lasted only until the final delivery of the powerplay.
Sakib Hussain produced a slower ball that completely deceived the right-hander. Going for a big hit, Kohli found no timing on the shot whatsoever, and the ball looped tamely to Smaran Ravichandran, who was stationed at covers, and Kohli trudged back for just 15 in 11 balls.
WATCH: Kohli snubs Head in post-match handshake
Head, for his part, later bowled the second-last over of the match and picked up the wicket of Rajat Patidar.
When the match ended and RCB’s players walked across to congratulate their opponents, Head reached out for the customary post-match handshake with Kohli.
The gesture went unacknowledged. Kohli walked straight past him and moved on to greet other SRH players, leaving Head’s outstretched hand hanging in the air.
The defeat stung, but RCB survived the league stage. Three teams, RCB, SRH, and Gujarat Titans, all ended up with 18 points. Net run rate became the tiebreaker, and RCB’s superior NRR was enough to hand them top spot heading into the knockout rounds.
Virat Kohli didn’t shake hands with Travis Head after the match ended. pic.twitter.com/74UEXm1aUV
— Cricketopia (@CricketopiaCom) May 22, 2026
The Cricket News Opinion: Passion is fine, but sportsmanship matters more
Kohli has always played the game with a fire that few can match, and honestly, that intensity is a big part of why people love watching him. But the post-match handshake moment raises a fair question about where competitiveness ends, and basic courtesy begins.
A handshake after a match is not a sign of weakness; it is a sign of respect for the opponent and the game itself. Head had done nothing wrong; he played his part, bowled when called upon, and his team won fairly.
Kohli is human, emotions run high in a defeat of this magnitude, and perhaps it was an unintentional lapse in the heat of the moment. But given the scrutiny that comes with being one of cricket’s biggest names, it is the kind of moment he would do well to avoid. The on-field banter is entertaining, but the cold shoulder afterwards is less so.
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