'They are attacking my friends and family': Travis Head's wife hits out over vile abuse following Virat Kohli clash
Aussie cricket star Travis Head and his family have been subjected to vile online abuse following an on-field spat with Indian icon Virat Kohli.
Head's Sunrisers Hyderabad beat Kohli's Royal Challengers Bengaluru in the Indian Premier League over the weekend before things turned nasty.
Kohli was seen exchanging words with the Australian batter during his innings, and after the match Head attempted to shake the veteran's hand but Kohli snubbed it and walked right past him.
READ MORE: Cowboys make call on 'dead man walking' coach
READ MORE: Piastri crashes rival out of race in nightmare for Aussie
READ MORE: Tennis star in tears after family almost hit by missile
Head looked bemused at the snub but it was he who felt the wrath of trolls after the exchange.
Head and his wife Jess discovered their social media accounts were flooded with comments from Kohli supporters.
The comments included "Your father is King Kohli" and similar, but others included vile threats of rape and violence aimed at the Adelaide couple and their extended family.
Virat Kohli snubs a Travis Head handshake. Nine
"It feels like a repeat of the abuse that happened after the World Cup," Jess told The Adelaide Advertiser.
"I woke up to my socials blasting... we are fine but they are attacking my friends and family."
Jess says she copped similar vile messages, including threats on her and her children's lives, following Australia playing India in the 2023 World Test Championship final, the ODI World Cup, and after Test matches during India's 2024-25 tour Down Under.
On Sunday, Jess and Travis both posted a touching photo of the pair embracing their young daughter, with the Instagram story accompanied by a single love heart emoji.
Former Indian player Wasim Jaffer says he doesn't know what sparked the Kohli incident but believes the Indian superstar acted inappropriately.
"We don't know the depth of what happened," Jaffer said on his YouTube channel, according to The Times of India.
Indian cricket fans flood Jess Head's Instagram posts with comments. Instagram
"I don't know what happened but at least he should have shaken hands. That thing should end on the ground.
"Then you have to shake hands and move on. You should not carry it.
"Kohli is an ambassador of the game. Everyone watches him. So all his steps need to be that way as he is a role model for millions.
"It was not right. He is too big a player to be doing this."
Royal Challengers Bengaluru sacrificed trying to beat Sunrisers Hyderabad to ensure they finished atop the Indian Premier League table.
Bengaluru got what it wanted despite losing by 55 runs.
Top of the table on net run rate, Bengaluru will host Gujarat Titans in the first playoff on Wednesday with the winner going straight to the June 1 final in Ahmedabad.
