Ananya Lohia , Hyderabad - Tempers flared during the high-voltage IPL 2026 clash between Virat Kohli and Travis Head as Sunrisers Hyderabad crushed Royal Challengers Bengaluru by 55 runs on Friday. While SRH’s emphatic victory helped them stay in the race for a top-two finish, the post-match handshake snub involving Kohli and Head became the biggest talking point of the night.
The controversy unfolded after the match when Kohli appeared to ignore Head during the customary handshake line. While the RCB star greeted several SRH players, including captain Pat Cummins, he walked straight past Head despite the Australian opener extending his hand. The tension reportedly began during Kohli’s brief stay at the crease in RCB’s chase. Kohli was seen making “impact substitute” gestures towards Head, seemingly mocking the Australian’s role changes during the season and asking him to bowl a few deliveries. However, Kohli’s innings ended quickly as he managed just 15 runs off 11 balls. Head later hit back with a sharp remark after Kohli’s dismissal, saying, “Mate, you got out before I even came on to bowl.”
Former India all-rounder Irfan Pathan, who was commentating during the game, reacted to the incident and said that on-field aggression is understandable but the post-match behaviour “wasn’t right.” The heated exchange also revived memories of Head’s aggressive sledging during the 2024-25 Border-Gavaskar Trophy, where some of his gestures had sparked controversy among Indian fans. Meanwhile, SRH delivered a commanding performance in a must-win encounter. Although the massive victory improved their net run rate, it was still not enough to overtake RCB or Gujarat Titans. Despite the heavy defeat, RCB finished at the top of the table due to their superior net run rate, with all three teams ending on 18 points.
What should have been remembered as a statement win for Sunrisers Hyderabad has instead turned into a debate over on-field aggression and sportsmanship. With Kohli and Head both known for their fiery competitiveness, the IPL has once again found itself at the centre of a heated cricketing rivalry.
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