MITCHELL JOHNSON: Virat Kohli ignited a firestorm of hate towards Travis and Jessica Head over a handshake

There’s always noise around incidents involving Virat Kohli.

That comes with the territory when you’re one of the biggest names in cricket. But the fallout from his recent interaction with Travis Head matters for a bigger reason than who said what in the heat of battle.

Ultimately, I don’t think the who said this or did that really matters. What matters is what people see.

For someone in Virat’s position as a global superstar, to walk past another player who has his hand outstretched at the end of a match and not shake hands speaks volumes to me.

More importantly, it sends a message to the tens of millions of fans and young aspiring cricketers watching around the world that this behaviour somehow falls under “sportsmanship”. It doesn’t.

And this isn’t the first time we’ve seen moments like this either. His frosty handshake with Tim Paine in Perth in 2018 comes to mind and that’s just not how things should be between two Test captains after a match.

I can confidently say 99 per cent of cricketers and sportspeople shake hands at the end of a game. That’s the key word too - game.

Somewhere along the way, people forget that’s exactly what sport started as when we were kids. You played because you loved it. You competed hard, you pushed boundaries, you tested each other’s skill and character, and yes, sometimes words were said. Sometimes there was genuine dislike between opponents. But at the end of it, you still shook hands.

I remember growing up being told exactly that in every sport I played. Shake your opponent’s hand because both of you turned up, competed, and gave your best even if you didn’t like the person. It was about respect for the contest itself.

That doesn’t mean you can’t be aggressive or emotional. Some of the best contests I played in were fiery. Fast bowling especially isn’t exactly built on friendly conversations and warm hugs. But there’s still a line between competitive edge and losing perspective.

You do wonder whether Virat would have reacted the same way had his side won the match. Would we still have seen him walk past without shaking hands? Maybe, maybe not. But either way, it tells you plenty and that’s the point.

When you’re one of the most recognisable athletes in the cricket world, people watch everything you do. And Virat would also know better than most how fiercely loyal his fan base is. That loyalty is part of what has made him such a giant of the game.

But with that influence also comes with responsibility. Given the way this situation escalated online, he had the opportunity to squash it immediately with one simple gesture, shake hands and move on.

That’s what athletes around the world do every single day. You compete hard, sometimes brutally hard, and then when it’s over, you acknowledge the opponent.

Instead, the ending only added more fuel to the fire. And unfortunately, when emotions are already running hot online, moments like that can validate the worst and most despicable behaviour from supporters who take things far beyond cricket.

What’s ironic in all this is the reaction afterwards. I enjoy seeing players who “give a bit” on the field, but some struggle when it comes back the other way. That’s part of elite sport too. If you’re willing to dish it out, you have to accept there’ll be moments where pressure comes back at you. No one player is bigger than the game.

Where things really crossed the line, though, was the abuse directed at Head’s family. It was disgusting.

And to be honest, Travis shouldn’t be receiving that level of abuse either. But this is the brave new world we live in, where people hide behind screens and think social media gives their opinion real value or importance.

Professional athletes grow thick skin over time. You have to. But athletes are still human beings. Their families certainly didn’t sign up for abuse from strangers online or in public.

The family attacks are the most gutless part of all this. To make vile comments about someone’s partner is pathetic enough. To involve children is even worse. If you think that’s acceptable because of a cricket incident, you seriously need to have a look at yourself.

I lived through it during my own career. My wife and family copped abuse as well, and it continued long after I retired. I was lucky because my wife was strong enough not to let it consume her, and sometimes she even called people out. But that doesn’t mean it should happen. Ever.

This game is emotional. It’s tribal. Fans care deeply and that’s part of why cricket is great. But common sense must still exist somewhere and what’s right and wrong.

You can love the game without taking it completely over the top.