No handshake took place between Virat Kohli and Travis Head after Sunrisers Hyderabad beat Royal Challengers Bengaluru in an IPL 2026 match on Friday. Kohli refused to shake Head’s offered hand when the players lined up for the customary post-game greetings, despite Head appearing to extend the gesture in an effort to move past their on-field moments. The refusal came after Bengaluru suffered a heavy 55-run loss, leaving Kohli in no mood to let the dispute go quietly. Hours later, Head shared a cryptic Instagram story, prompting speculation that it was linked to what unfolded between the two during and after the contest.
Kohli-Head sparks in the middle
- Kohli had a difficult night against SRH and was dismissed by Sakib Hussain for 15 runs from 11 balls.
- Before Kohli’s dismissal, an exchange between Kohli and Head intensified during the middle overs, with Head seemingly pushing Kohli to go for bigger shots.
- In response, Kohli delivered a line along the lines of: once you’re not going to be taken off, you might as well bowl—turning the on-field challenge into banter.
After the match ended, Head posted the caption “Keep the body guessing” on his official Instagram account. Many fans interpreted the message as a subtle reference to Kohli’s refusal to shake his hand after the result.
The row spills into the post-match greetings
- The tension between Kohli and Head escalated after Kohli was dismissed soon after for 15, a wicket that intensified the competitive mood.
- As Kohli walked back towards the dugout, Head reportedly struck back with a sharp parting remark—mocking the fact that Kohli had been dismissed before Head even had a chance to bowl to him.
- The frustration from that dismissal carried into the final moments after SRH’s dominant 55-run win.
The decisive incident came during the traditional handshake sequence. With both teams forming lines, cameras captured Head extending his hand toward Kohli as the exchange began. Kohli ignored the gesture completely—looking away and walking past Head without stopping. He did, however, greet other SRH players immediately after, including Australian captain Pat Cummins, making the deliberate snub of Head stand out even more. The episode has since divided opinion across cricket circles, with debate centring on post-match etiquette versus the intensity of competitive spirit on the field.
