Controversy over refusing to shake hands with Travis Head after the Kohli altercation

A heated situation that arose during and after the IPL cricket match between Sunrisers Hyderabad and Royal Challengers Bangalore, held at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium in Hyderabad on May 22, 2026, has been a major topic of discussion these days. Especially after the match, when players from both teams were congratulating each other, Indian superstar Virat Kohli refused to shake hands with Australian player Travis Head, which sparked a wide discussion across social media about the spirit of the game and competitiveness.

In this crucial match, the Sunrisers Hyderabad team managed to record an excellent victory by 55 runs. Batting first, they set a massive target of 255 runs for 4 wickets at the end of 20 overs. Abhishek Sharma contributed significantly with 56 runs off 22 balls, and Ishan Kishan scored 79 runs off 46 balls. In response, the Bangalore team could only manage 200 runs for 4 wickets. Virat Kohli was dismissed for 15 runs, while Krunal Pandya launched a fighting innings, scoring 41 runs off 31 balls.

The beginning of this controversial incident was marked during the initial overs of Bangalore's innings. A heated exchange of words occurred between Kohli, who was trying to score quickly under pressure, and Travis Head, who was fielding. Reportedly, Kohli challenged Head to come and bowl, and after Kohli was dismissed for 15 runs, Head stated that Kohli was out even before he could come to bowl. Following this exchange, Kohli was seen reacting with great frustration, and many point to it as a result of the high competitiveness commonly seen in T20 cricket matches.

During the traditional handshake ceremony after the match, Kohli congratulated players including Sunrisers captain Pat Cummins and Abhishek Sharma, but when Travis Head extended his hand, Kohli ignored him and walked past. Videos and photos of this incident quickly circulated on social media, with many fans and critics severely criticizing Kohli's action, calling it a childish act detrimental to the spirit of the game. However, others justified his competitiveness and passionate nature, stating that this incident has once again drawn global attention to the competitiveness and emotional behavior of players in modern cricket.