Virat Kohli Avoids Handshake With Travis Head After On-Field Altercation During SRH vs RCB IPL 2026 Match (Watch Video)
Tensions flared during Friday night's high-voltage IPL 2026 clash between Sunrisers Hyderabad and Royal Challengers Bengaluru. Following an intense on-field verbal battle during the second innings, Virat Kohli visibly snubbed a customary post-match handshake from Australian opener Travis Head, creating a major talking point.
The intense competitive nature of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026 was on full display at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium on Friday, 22 May, during the match between Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) and Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB). While the hosts secured a dominant 55-run victory on the night, the post-match discourse has been entirely dominated by an icy interaction between Virat Kohli and Travis Head.ย Sunrisers Hyderabad vs Royal Challengers Bengaluru Match Scorecard.
During the customary post-match handshake line, Kohli completely bypassed the Australian left-hander, who had extended his hand toward the Indian veteran. The moment, captured vividly on the official broadcast and circulated widely on social media, marked the culmination of a friction-filled evening between the two players.
Virat Kohli-Travis Headย On-Field Altercation Explained
The friction between the two international stars built up steadily across both innings. Tensions originally escalated during RCBโs daunting chase of a massive 256-run target set by Hyderabad. Early in the second innings, Head reportedly initiated a verbal exchange, challenging Kohli to play more expansive, attacking shots during his stay at the crease.
Kohli, renowned for his fiery temperament, responded aggressively between deliveries. The former RCB captain turned directly to Head in the outfield and mockingly made the official technical hand signal used for an "Impact Player" substitution.ย Virat Kohli Engages In Heated Exchange With Travis Head During SRH vs RCB IPL 2026 (Watch Video).
Virat Kohli-Travis Head Spat
#ViratKohli ๐ #TravisHead ๐ฅต๐คฏ
Tensions rise in high voltage clash๐ฅ#TATAIPL Race to Playoffs 2026 ๐ #SRHvRCB | LIVE NOW โก๏ธhttps://t.co/52qPTW2gSO pic.twitter.com/JOiWaxNW6T
โ Star Sports (@StarSportsIndia) May 22, 2026
According to television commentators, Kohli taunted Head over his frequent use as a specialist batsman under the substitute rule, shouting at him to come into the attack and bowl rather than chirping from the boundary ropes. In an ironic twist, Head was brought on by SRH captain Pat Cummins to bowl the penultimate over of the match, where he promptly claimed the crucial wicket of a well-set Rajat Patidar.
Virat Kohli'sย Handshake Snub
The competitive animosity failed to dissolve once the winning runs were sealed. As the two squads assembled on the turf to exchange post-game pleasantries, Head extended his arm toward the walking Kohli in an apparent gesture to put the mid-match sledging behind them.
Kohli, however, chose to look straight past Head, refusing to acknowledge the gesture or establish eye contact as he walked directly down the line. Interestingly, the snub was highly selective. Kohli was seen directly before and after the incident greeting other Hyderabad personnel, including Pat Cummins, young opener Abhishek Sharma, and wicketkeeper-batsman Ishan Kishan, with warmth and smiles.
Virat Kohli's No Handshake With Travis Head
Look at the way Travis Head went to shake hands with Virat Kohli, but Kohli did not shake hands with him back. Seriously, what happened between them? ๐
I have always seen both of them sharing a good bond during international cricket and even in the IPL. pic.twitter.com/lTrCYyIL20
โ Sonu (@Cricket_live247) May 23, 2026
Another Video of Virat Kohli Avoiding handshake with Travis Head
Virat Kohli refused handshake with Travis Head, as both had some heat moments between the game. SRH vs RCB โ ๏ธ #ViratKohli #RCB #IPL #SRHvsRCB pic.twitter.com/7j6kdaCyxB
โ ๐๐ฎ๐๐๐ข๐ซ๐๐ (@iiZub22) May 22, 2026
Despite the definitive 55-run defeat on the field, Royal Challengers Bengaluru secured a massive structural consolation prize. At the conclusion of the league stage, RCB, Gujarat Titans, and Sunrisers Hyderabad all finish level on exactly 18 points apiece.
Thanks to a highly favorable net run rate cushion built up across earlier rounds, RCB successfully retained the top spot on the official table, with Gujarat Titans taking second place. This net run rate advantage guarantees RCB a crucial second chance in the upcoming playoff qualifiers. Sunrisers Hyderabad finish the regular season locked into third place, meaning tonightโs victory secures their playoff position but sets up a highly anticipated, potentially volatile rematch against the Bengaluru franchise in the knockout phase.
(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on May 23, 2026 10:01 AM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).
