Just two days after Travis Head’s wife, Jessica, described the abuse she has faced from online trolls, a US construction business has been pulled into a similar controversy. Holder Construction, headquartered in Atlanta, became the target of hate-filled and profane messages after some users—thought to be Virat Kohli supporters—mistakenly linked the firm to Gujarat Titans pacer Jason Holder.
The confusion appears to have been fueled by a recent IPL 2026 clash in which Holder dismissed Kohli for 43. That wicket came during Qualifier 1 between Gujarat Titans and Royal Challengers Bengaluru at the HPCA Stadium in Dharamsala, and instead of staying focused on cricket, the fallout spilled over into social media.
Quick facts
- Holder Construction is an Atlanta-headquartered US construction firm.
- The company was targeted after users, believed to be Kohli fans, linked it to Jason Holder.
- Holder dismissed Virat Kohli for 43 in IPL 2026 Qualifier 1 at the HPCA Stadium, Dharamsala.
- Derogatory comments were posted on the firm’s Instagram account, including on a Memorial Day tribute post.
- The firm limited comments after the trolling.
Even more jarring was the timing. Several abusive remarks were left on Holder Construction’s Instagram page, including under a post that marked Memorial Day. The caption read: “Today we pause to honor and remember the brave individuals who gave their lives in service to our nation. Their sacrifice will not be forgotten.”
Once the trolling escalated, the company moved to contain the damage by restricting comments on the relevant post. A small number of messages remain visible, though, and they underline how quickly online abuse can spread—often with little regard for context or intent.
From the comments, many of the accounts involved appear to be Kohli supporters. However, some users also suggested that certain profiles may be posing as Kohli fans purely to stoke hostility, a tactic that has become common during intense fan rivalries. On platforms like X, trolls frequently claim they are fans of major names such as Kohli, Rohit Sharma and MS Dhoni, while their shared behavior is the same: tearing down anyone who isn’t aligned with their favorites.
Less than a day earlier, a similar pattern was reported in cricket circles when Shreyas Iyer’s sister, Shrestha, spoke out about enduring abuse from online trolls. She described a long and exhausting battle with the harassment, echoing how these campaigns often follow players and their families beyond the boundary of sport.
What Holder Construction says about itself
Holder Construction describes its business on LinkedIn as a major national commercial construction company that “consistently ranking in the nation’s top 20 contractors.” It also states that, since 1960, the firm’s priorities include building strong relationships and delivering high-quality buildings.
But the core issue goes beyond one match or one player. The problem is that troll networks rarely stop at attacking athletes or specific fan groups; the hostility often expands to anyone who challenges the behaviour in the first place.
Attacking dissent, not just players
Recently, former India opener Aakash Chopra was among several cricket voices who criticized the trolling aimed at Jessica. The criticism centered on the idea that targeting her brought shame to the country. Instead of reflecting, some of the same online agitators reportedly turned their attention toward Chopra, flooding him with hate as well.
What makes the cycle especially worrying is the lack of learning. Even after being called out, these keyboard warriors appear to repeat the same pattern—defending their actions rather than addressing the harm, and continuing to escalate whenever someone questions them.
