When Travis Head and Virat Kohli Joined Forces to Dismiss Pat Cummins

The Heat of IPL 2026: When Kohli and Head Locked Horns

The IPL 2026 clash between Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) and Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) on May 22 will be remembered for a long time. Although the match was a virtual dead rubber with minimal impact on the tournament standings, it generated massive headlines across the cricketing world. The spark that ignited this firestorm was the visible friction between two of the game’s most competitive characters: Virat Kohli and Travis Head.

Tensions flared when Travis Head decided to sledge Virat Kohli while the legendary Indian batter was at the crease. Captured clearly by the stump microphone, Head’s words were sharp, prompting an immediate psychological battle. While Kohli initially chose to remain silent and non-reactive, his bat did the talking as he executed some of his trademark furious shots in response. The drama did not end with the final ball. After SRH secured a victory on their home turf, Kohli was seen deliberately bypassing Head during the traditional post-match handshakes. This cold exchange sent social media into a frenzy, with fans and pundits dissecting every frame of the encounter.

A Trip Down Memory Lane: Teammates in Red and Gold

It is highly ironic to see Kohli and Head at each other’s throats today, considering they once wore the same jersey and shared the same team strategy. Back in IPL 2017, both players were vital members of the Royal Challengers Bangalore squad. They were not just teammates; they were partners in planning on-field tactics. One of the most fascinating chapters of their brief alliance occurred during the 56th match of the season against the Delhi Daredevils (now Delhi Capitals) at the iconic Arun Jaitley Stadium in Delhi.

In that particular encounter, RCB won the toss and elected to bat first. Virat Kohli, who was leading the franchise as captain, anchor-rolled the innings beautifully. Kohli top-scored with a classy 58 runs, showing his class on a tricky surface. He found great support in the legendary Chris Gayle, who smashed a characteristic 48 runs off just 38 deliveries. Together, they propelled RCB to a competitive total of 161 runs in their allotted 20 overs. Travis Head, however, had a tough day with the bat, getting run out early after scoring a mere two runs. But as the saying goes in cricket, redemption is always just an over away.

The Setup: Pat Cummins’ Threatening Cameo

Defending a total of 161, RCB needed early breakthroughs. Delhi Daredevils got off to a disastrous start as Sanju Samson was dismissed for a duck. Karun Nair, Shreyas Iyer, and Rishabh Pant tried to rebuild the innings with resilient knocks, but the RCB bowlers kept striking at regular intervals. When Delhi slumped to 87 for 4, the match hung in the balance.

Out walked a young Pat Cummins at number 7. Before his batting exploits, Cummins had already made a mark on the game by picking up two wickets with his fast bowling. Now, he needed to deliver with the bat to keep Delhi’s hopes alive. Facing his Australian compatriot Travis Head, Cummins took a single off his first ball to deep mid-wicket. After Rishabh Pant rotated the strike, Cummins decided to unleash his power. He launched a massive swing, sending Head’s delivery sailing over the mid-wicket boundary for a brilliant six. The local Delhi crowd erupted, sensing a potential comeback led by the Australian speedster.

The Masterstroke: How Kohli and Head Outsmarted Cummins

Knowing Cummins’ aggressive intent, Travis Head and captain Virat Kohli quickly adjusted their plans. On the very next ball—the final delivery of the 16th over—Head adjusted his line and length. He delivered a full and wide ball well outside the off-stump, tempting Cummins to go for another big hit over the extra-cover region.

Cummins took the bait. He swung hard, but only managed to get a toe-end slice off his bat. The ball soared high into the Delhi sky, heading straight toward the long-off boundary. Stationed perfectly at long-off was none other than Virat Kohli. The RCB skipper kept his eyes locked on the ball, completing a comfortable catch to dismiss the dangerous batsman.

The dismissal was a massive relief for RCB, and the cameras captured Kohli and Head running toward each other, celebrating the success of their plan with high-fives and wide smiles. Together, they had successfully plotted and executed the downfall of Pat Cummins, who departed after scoring an entertaining but brief cameo.

The Irony of Time: From Allies to Bitter Rivals

Fast forward nine years to IPL 2026, and the landscape of cricket has changed dramatically. The camaraderie of 2017 has faded into intense franchise rivalry. Travis Head and Virat Kohli find themselves on opposite sides of a fierce divide, with their competitive spirits pushing them to the absolute limit. What makes it even more poetic is that Pat Cummins, the man they once combined to dismiss, is now the captain of the Sunrisers Hyderabad, leading Travis Head into battle against Virat Kohli’s Royal Challengers Bengaluru.

This shift highlights the volatile, fast-paced nature of franchise cricket. Teammates of yesterday become the bitter rivals of today, and old foes become brothers-in-arms. As Kohli and Head reach the twilight of their illustrious careers, their recent clashes remind us that in the IPL, emotions run high, history is deep, and every match writes a new, unpredictable chapter.