Cricketer Travis Head and his family have been subjected to a vile wave of online abuse following an on-field incident Indian star Virat Kohli.

It came as Head’s Sunrisers Hyderabad beat Kohli’s Royal Challengers Bengaluru in an Indian Premier League match last Friday.

Kohli was seen exchanging heated words with Head early in his innings. While it’s not known what was said, a visibly angry Kohli was seen ​gesturing to Head – a batsman – to come and bowl.

After the match, Kohli refused to shake Head’s hand, pointedly walking past him and ignoring the gesture. Footage of the incident was shared widely across social media at the weekend.

Despite the loss for the Royal Challengers, they did score enough to finish on top of the IPL table.

Since the match, however, Head and his wife Jess have found their social media accounts flooded with comments from Kohli supporters. Some are in praise of “King Kohli” while others, far more concerning, include threats of rape and other violence.

“It feels like a repeat of the abuse that happened after the World Cup,” Jess Head told The Adelaide Advertiser on Monday.

“I woke up to my socials blasting… we are fine but they are attacking my friends and family.”

Messages on Jess Heads’ Instagram page. Photo: Instagram

Head said she had similar messages, including threats to her and the lives of the couple’s two young children, Milla and Harrison, following Australia playing India in the 2023 World Test Championship final, the ODI World Cup, and after Test matches during India’s 2024-25 tour Down Under.

Indian Australian sports journalist and commentator Bharat Sundaresan said the comments were prompted by Kohli’s snub but escalated by the former Indian captain’s fans.

“That wasn’t great behaviour from Virat Kohli to start with, but then the evil forces of social media took over, as they do these days,” he told the ABC.

“It’s always been pretty wild fandom for cricket in India, and especially around certain cricketers, but it’s become more tribalistic than ever before these days.”

Sundaresan said he had spoken with Head who “was fine”.

“It is almost like if you are an international cricketer these days or sportsperson anywhere in the world, you just need some days away from social media, and a day where you had a spat with Virat Kohli is definitely one of them,” he said.

Jess Head, meanwhile, urged people to think about the impact of their social media comments, particularly on those outside of the limelight.

“I think across all sports at the moment there’s an important conversation around mental health, perspective and the way we speak to one another,” she told the Advertiser.

“Passion will always be part of sport, but so is remembering there are real people and families behind the game. Hopefully this encourages more kindness, and support for one another.”