Kohli refuses handshake with Head after heated verbal spat during IPL clash

(Reuters) - Tempers flared between Virat Kohli and Travis Head in the Indian Premier League, as the ​former Indian captain refused to shake hands with ‌the Australian batter after Head's Sunrisers Hyderabad handed Kohli's Royal Challengers Bengaluru a crushing 55-run defeat.

The two exchanged heated words ​when Kohli opened for Bengaluru, looking to ​chase down a daunting target of 256. During ⁠the exchange, a visibly angry Kohli was seen ​gesturing towards Head to come and bowl.

Kohli also mockingly ​made the "impact player" substitution gesture, a reference to Head, who is primarily a batter, often being replaced by Hyderabad for ​a specialist bowler after the Australian finishes batting.
Head ​did not have much time to take Kohli up on ‌his ⁠invite, as the Bengaluru opener fell soon after, scoring 15 off 11 balls. The Australian, however, bowled an over later in the game and dismissed Bengaluru ​captain Rajat ​Patidar.
As the ⁠teams lined up to shake hands after the match, Head held out his ​hand but Kohli looked straight ahead and ​walked ⁠past him.
Friday's win left third-placed Hyderabad on equal points with Bengaluru, but Kohli's side remained top of the ⁠table ​with a superior net run ​rate. Both teams have qualified for the IPL playoffs starting Wednesday.