![\"\u2018Hypocrites\u2019:](\"https:\/\/static.toiimg.com\/thumb\/msid-131325126,imgsize-940195,width-400,height-225,resizemode-4\/travis-head-and-virat-kohli.jpg\" "\\"Travis")
<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\nNEW DELHI: Former India cricketer and commentator Aakash Chopra<\/a> has strongly condemned online abuse directed at players\u2019 families after Travis Head<\/a>\u2019s wife Jessica revealed that their close friends and relatives were targeted with hateful messages following the Australian batter\u2019s recent IPL 2026 confrontation with Virat Kohli<\/a>.The controversy erupted after a heated on-field exchange between Kohli and Head during Royal Challengers Bengaluru\u2019s clash against Sunrisers Hyderabad in Hyderabad last week. During RCB\u2019s chase, the two star players were seen exchanging words in the middle. While the exact details of the verbal spat remain unclear, tensions appeared to continue after the match as well. Viral visuals showed Head approaching Kohli for a customary handshake, but the former India captain seemingly walked past the Australian opener while greeting other SRH players.The incident quickly exploded across social media platforms, sparking heated debates among fans of both teams.However, the situation escalated further after Jessica Head revealed that online abuse soon spread beyond cricket and began targeting the family\u2019s close circle.\u201cIt feels like a repeat of the abuse that happened after the World Cup. I woke up to my socials blasting… we are fine but they are attacking my friends and family,\u201d Jessica told The Advertiser.Reacting to the disturbing trend, Chopra strongly criticised fans for dragging players\u2019 loved ones into sporting rivalries.\u201cPeople abusing wives\u2026 kids\u2026 are the lowest form of scumbags,\u201d Chopra wrote on X. \u201cSome might be found under this comment, too. Same lowlifes won\u2019t handle an iota of criticism about themselves or their idols. Hypocrites.\u201dJessica Head calls for kindness amid growing toxicity<\/span>Jessica also pointed out that similar abuse followed Australia\u2019s victories over India in major ICC tournaments, including the 2023 ODI World Cup final, the World Test Championship final and the 2024 Boxing Day Test.\u201cI think across all sports at the moment there\u2019s an important conversation around mental health, perspective and the way we speak to one another,\u201d she said. \u201cPassion will always be part of sport, but so is remembering there are real people and families behind the game.\u201dThe controversy later took an even stranger turn after several fans mistakenly targeted American rapper Travis Scott on social media because of the shared first name with Travis Head.Scott\u2019s Instagram account was flooded with abusive comments linked to the Kohli-Head controversy despite the rapper having no connection whatsoever to cricket or the IPL.The bizarre mix-up once again highlighted the darker side of online fan culture, where outrage and trolling increasingly spill beyond the boundaries of the sport itself.<\/div>\n