Virat Kohli moved ahead without shaking hands with Travis HeadImage Credit source: PTI
In the 67th match of IPL 2026, Sunrisers Hyderabad defeated Royal Challengers Bangalore and equalized the loss in the first match of this season. This match was expected to be very exciting but it did not appear so. However, this match gave rise to a conflict that could be seen in the playoffs. The match between Bengaluru’s star batsman and Hyderabad’s explosive opener Travis Head was heated, which made headlines. But after the match was over, Virat Kohli created a new controversy by not shaking hands with Travis Head.
During Bengaluru’s innings in this match played on Friday 22 May in Hyderabad. Confrontation between Head and Kohli Was seen. During Kohli’s batting, the Australian cricketer made some comments, in response to which Kohli also said something. Even after this, the conflict between the two continued for some time. Then when Venkatesh Iyer was out, Head passed by Kohli and made some comments, which further instigated the matter.
Head extended his hand, Kohli moved forward
But hardly anyone would have thought that Virat Kohli would continue this ruckus even after the match. Hyderabad won this match by 55 runs. Like every match, after the completion of the match, when the players of both the teams were shaking hands, then Kohli did such an act which displeased even the fans. Travis Head extended his hand to Kohli but the Bengaluru batsman ignored it and did not shake hands with Head.
Virat Kohli ignored Travis Head when he tried to shake hands with him after the match ЁЯШн#SRHvsRCB pic.twitter.com/urAY79pYQ0
тАФ Indian Cricket (@IPL2025Auction) May 22, 2026
As soon as it was shown on TV, its video immediately went viral on social media. This behavior of Kohli is being criticized a lot and it is being called against the spirit of the game. Obviously, after the match is over, players usually forget their grudges and shake hands with each other, even if reluctantly, but Virat Kohli not doing so did not go down well with the common cricket fans.
SRH won, but RCB won the real match
Talking about the match, both the teams had already reached the playoffs but the importance of this match was because it decided which team would play the first qualifier and which would play the eliminator. Hyderabad scored 255 runs and won the match by 55 runs. But it failed to leave Bengaluru behind in net run rate. Due to this, RCB retained its first position in the points table, due to which it will face Gujarat Titans in Qualifier-1. Whereas Hyderabad will have to play eliminator, where if it loses, it can be out.
