Australian cricketer Travis Head and his wife Jessica Davies are facing severe online abuse following a controversial incident during an IPL 2026 match between Sunrisers Hyderabad and Royal Challengers Bengaluru.
The backlash began after an on-field exchange between Head and Indian batter Virat Kohli, which reportedly escalated when Kohli appeared to ignore Head’s extended hand during the customary post-match handshake.
The moment quickly went viral on social media, triggering a wave of toxic commentary from a section of fans.
According to reports, both Head and Davies have been targeted with abusive, sexist and highly offensive messages across their social media accounts.
The harassment has also reportedly extended to their friends and family members, with some receiving private messages containing threats, including rape and death threats directed at the couple’s young daughter.
Davies spoke to The Advertiser, saying the situation had escalated rapidly online and affected people close to them.
She added that while the family remained fine, the level of abuse directed at their support network was deeply concerning.
She also highlighted that this was not an isolated experience, comparing it to previous online abuse following the 2023 Cricket World Cup final in Ahmedabad, where Australia defeated India.
