On Friday night, a big controversy erupted after Virat Kohli refused to shake hands with Travis Head after RCB were crushed by SRH in their 2026 Indian Premier League (IPL) encounter.
During the game, Kohli asked Head to come and bowl to him since he was not going to be substituted in the match, unlike many times before in the league. That’s a massive dig. However, Kohli’s batting couldn’t keep up with his sledging as he shortly after fell for an 11-ball 15. At that point, Head retorted, “Mate, you are out before I can come to bowl.”
Over the years, Kohli has been involved in many heated confrontations with opposition players, playing for India or playing for RCB. Here, let’s take a look at some of the controversies involving him in the IPL over the years.
1. Feud with Gautam Gambhir
In 2013, after getting out against Kolkata Knight Riders, Kohli exchanged fiery words with the then KKR captain. It took another guy from Delhi, all-rounder Rajat Bhatia, to separate them. Kohli and Gambhir have not been on great terms since. Even though they tried once after Gambhir became India head coach.
2. Another confrontation with Gambhir
In 2023, Gambhir was the mentor of Lucknow Super Giants. During a RCB-LSG game, Kohli had a run-in with Afghan bowler Naveen-ul-Haq. Later, after the match got over, Gambhir confronted Kohli on the same issue, making their relationship reach a new low.
3. Tried to intimidate Suryakumar Yadav
In 2020, Kohli tried to intimidate Mumbai Indians’ Suryakumar Yadav through a long stare. At that time, Surya was knocking on the doors of the national team. Kohli was the national captain, and many thought that was the end of Suryakumar as far as his India aspirations were concerned. However, things turned out differently.
4. The Shreyas Iyer displeasure
In 2025, in a game when RCB beat Punjab Kings, captained by Shreyas Iyer, Kohli put his feet wide apart and celebrated with vigour. With it, he also intended to mock Iyer, probably in jest. Iyer didn’t take kindly to it, and later Kohli tried to explain to him that he was only doing it to tease him. That there was nothing more to it. But Iyer looked upset.
5. All hell broke loose after Rajat Patidar’s dismissal
Earlier this season, Kohli was absolutely fuming that RCB captain Rajat Patidar was given out after a catch review against Gujarat Titans. The catch was taken by Jason Holder, and he appeared to have grassed it. Kohli was convinced the umpire had made a mistake. He confronted the match officials.
In other notable mentions in similar cases, in 2022, he fumed and smashed his bat after being given lbw off Dewald Brevis, who was then with Mumbai Indians. Then in 2024, he was upset after being given out off a ball that appeared waist-high from Harshit Rana. Upon reviewing it, it was not waist-high.
