Australian cricketer Travis Head and his wife Jessica have reported receiving online abuse from some Indian cricket fans following a heated exchange during an IPL 2026 match involving Virat Kohli. Jessica Head stated on social media that the abuse 'feels like a repeat of the World Cup,' referring to similar incidents after the 2023 ODI World Cup final.
The incident occurred during a match between Royal Challengers Bengaluru and Sunrisers Hyderabad on May 24, 2026, when Kohli and Head had a verbal spat on the field. Videos of the exchange went viral, leading to a surge of abusive messages directed at the Heads.
Jessica Head posted screenshots of some of the abusive messages on her Instagram story, writing, 'It's disappointing to see this again. We've been through this before.' She did not name any specific individuals but called for more respect from fans.
The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) and the IPL have not yet commented on the incident. Neither Kohli nor Head have publicly addressed the online abuse.
