Virat Kohli's Controversial Gesture After RCB's Defeat to SRH
Kohli's Snub Sparks Outrage
In a recent match, Virat Kohli bypassed the traditional handshake with Travis Head following the Royal Challengers Bengaluru's (RCB) loss to Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH). A video circulating on social media shows Head reaching out for a handshake, but Kohli walked past him without acknowledgment. This incident has drawn criticism from fans, who feel such behavior is unbecoming of a player of Kohli's caliber.
Uncomfortable to watch extreme bad behavior by a man of such stature didn’t expect this from Virat Kohli #SRHvsRCB pic.twitter.com/cTfMV9RuDD
— AVNISH 🇮🇳 (@avnishh26) May 22, 2026
Kohli's performance in the match was underwhelming, as he was dismissed for just 15 runs while chasing a daunting target of 256. During the game, he was seen animatedly engaging with Head, signaling him to bowl and playfully gesturing with the Impact Player sign.
#ViratKohli 🆚 #TravisHead 🥵🤯Tensions rise in high voltage clash🔥#TATAIPL Race to Playoffs 2026 👉 #SRHvRCB | LIVE NOW ➡️https://t.co/52qPTW2gSO pic.twitter.com/JOiWaxNW6T
— Star Sports (@StarSportsIndia) May 22, 2026
As the match progressed, Head bowled the second last over, but by that time, SRH had already secured a strong position. He successfully took the wicket of Rajat Patidar. Despite the high-scoring nature of the tournament, RCB could only manage 200 runs for 4 wickets, while SRH's Ishan Kishan scored 79, and Abhishek Sharma contributed 56 and 51 runs, leading SRH to a formidable total.
RCB Secures Top Two Finish
Despite the defeat, RCB clinched a top-two finish in the league. The defending champions performed well throughout the season, winning nine out of their fourteen matches. They are set to face Gujarat Titans in Qualifier 1. Although SRH finished with the same points as RCB and GT, their inferior run rate prevented them from securing a top-two spot.