'Virat Kohli not shaking hands could have been avoided': Pathan, Harbhajan react to RCB batter vs Head battle

Indian cricket greats, including Irfan Pathan and Harbhajan Singh, were left dumbfounded as Virat Kohli snubbed Travis Head during the handshakes between Royal Challengers Bengaluru and Sunrisers Hyderabad players after a 2026 IPL game on Friday.

SRH won the match by 55 runs, while RCB ensured a top-of-the-table finish. During the match, Kohli was seen engaging in verbal battles with Head, but his decision to refuse a handshake at the end of the match has become a massive controversy.

Pathan, Harbhajan react to Kohli vs Head battle

SRH took a dig at Kohli with a social media post as well, while former India spinner Harbhajan felt that the former RCB captain may have been angry over something that Head probably told him during the match.

"Travis Head stretched his hand, but Kohli did not shake his hand," Harbhajan said on Star Sports. "Yeah, we don't know what happened. We only saw what was shown on TV. Maybe Travis Head may have teased him and after that, Virat Kohli was also seen saying something to him. As a result, Kohli is not happy with him, which is why he did not shake hands with Head."

More from Firstcricket

Reacting to the banter between the two players, Irfan Pathan said, "Virat also likes to play cricket the way Australians do, right? Little banter, little aggression...'come down and bowl some deliveries' that is what he was saying now that you are not an impact player because generally Head is an impact player, he goes off the field so Kohli asked him to bowl and something happened there."

Pathan added that while being aggressive on the field is perfectly fine, Kohli could have avoided snubbing Head during the handshakes between the two teams.

"Look what happened after the game, I am not going to talk much about it, but what happened on the field, I know it happens. You want to be aggressive, you want to wear your heart on your sleeve. This (refusing a handshake) could be avoided."

Former India opener Abhinav Mukund was also very surprised. "That's something you don't see very often with Virat," he added.