IPL
‘Repeat of World Cup abuse’: Travis Head’s wife Jessica targeted online after Kohli spat
Mumbai/IBNS: The controversy surrounding the on-field spat between Virat Kohli and Travis Head took an ugly turn after fans dragged the Australian batter’s wife, Jessica Head, into the row on social media.
What happened?
Last week, a verbal altercation broke out between Kohli and Head during a relatively inconsequential IPL clash between Royal Challengers Bengaluru and Sunrisers Hyderabad.
The rivalry appeared to intensify after Kohli reportedly refused to shake hands with Head following SRH’s victory over RCB.
The incident quickly triggered heated debates across social media platforms.
Jessica Head faces online abuse
The situation escalated when several users allegedly began abusing Jessica Head online.
Speaking to Australian media outlet The Advertiser, Jessica said the trolling reminded her of the backlash she faced after the 2023 ODI World Cup final, when Travis Head took a crucial catch to dismiss Rohit Sharma.
“It feels like a repeat of the abuse that happened after the World Cup. I woke up to my socials blasting... we are fine but they are attacking my friends and family,” she said, as quoted by NDTV.
Virat Kohli ignored Travis Head’s handshake after the match 😭
— Sourabh Raut (@xzx_slipknot) May 23, 2026
Ego peaked here 💀 pic.twitter.com/tKyw5nv1Ve
Jessica calls for kindness in sports
Jessica also highlighted the need for healthier conversations around sports fandom and mental health.
“I think across all sports at the moment there's an important conversation around mental health, perspective and the way we speak to one another.
“Passion will always be part of sport, but so is remembering there are real people and families behind the game. Hopefully this encourages more kindness and support for one another,” she added.
Anushka Sharma too faced trolling
Similar experiences have often been faced by Kohli’s wife, Anushka Sharma, over the years.
Kohli’s poor form had frequently been linked by trolls to his personal life and relationship with Anushka.
During the 2019 World Cup, a section of social media users had even blamed Anushka’s presence during India’s semi-final campaign for the team’s exit from the tournament.
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