Nothing too serious, just a bit of banter: Travis Head on his verbal spat with Glenn Maxwell and Marcus Stoinis

ANI April 13, 2025 283 views

The IPL witnessed a dramatic encounter between Sunrisers Hyderabad and Punjab Kings, featuring a fiery verbal exchange between Travis Head and Glenn Maxwell. Head and Abhishek delivered a stunning batting performance, chasing down 246 runs in what became the second-highest run chase in IPL history. The match was not just about cricket, but also about the intense competitive spirit between players who know each other well. Travis Head's casual dismissal of the verbal spat as "just a bit of banter" highlighted the complex camaraderie among professional cricketers.

"You bring out the best and the worst in each other when you know them so well, nothing too serious, just a bit of banter." - Travis Head
Hyderabad, April 13: After the completion of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 encounter against Punjab Kings (PBKS), Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) opener Travis Head opened up and shared his thoughts on the verbal spat between him and Glenn Maxwell and Marcus Stoinis during the ninth over of the 27th fixture of the ongoing 18th edition of the cash-rich league.

Key Points

1

Heated on-field confrontation between Australian cricketers during IPL match

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SRH chases down 246-run target in second-highest IPL run chase

3

Travis Head and Abhishek deliver explosive batting performance

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Verbal spat adds drama to high-intensity cricket encounter

During the ninth over of the innings, Glenn Maxwell was brought into the attack. On the third and fourth deliveries of the over, Head slammed two consecutive sixes off Maxwell, which frustrated him.

After the two sixes, Maxwell exchanged a few words with the Hyderabad opener. After the completion of the over, Head walked up to Maxwell and responded, sparking a heated verbal exchange between the two. The situation escalated until the on-field umpire stepped in to finish the spat. Soon after, Marcus Stoinis, fellow Australian and Punjab Kings all-rounder, joined in and was seen engaging in a fresh argument with Head.

Speaking at the post-match presentation on the verbal exchange, the 31-year-old player said, "You bring out the best and the worst in each other when you know them so well, nothing too serious, just a bit of banter."

"Not bad, nice to get on the winners list. It was an exceptional night; we needed it. We had our work cut out at the halfway point. We gave ourselves a chance, showed a bit more patience at the start. We knew the plans they were going to come with. Gave ourselves a bit more time and got off to a flyer. We did the things we did really well last year, and that's what made us such a good partnership. It's just about encouraging each other, picking our targets and setting the stage. We've seen 270-280 scored on that wicket. We've played on slightly different wickets, but no.2 seems to put out big scores. Everything had to go right for us to chase down 240," the Australian batter added.

Coming to the match, PBKS won the toss and elected to bat first. A 66-run stand between Priyansh Arya (36 in 13 balls, with two fours and four sixes) and Prabhsimran Singh (42 in 23 balls, with seven fours and a six) started off things well for PBKS. Later, a half-century from skipper Shreyas Iyer (82 in 36 balls, with six fours and six sixes) and a final flourish from Marcus Stoinis (34* in 11 balls, with a four and four sixes) powered PBKS to 245/6 in their 20 overs.

Harshal Patel (4/42) and Eshan Malinga (2/45) were among the wicket-takers for SRH.

In the run-chase of 246 runs, Abhishek (141 in 55 balls, with 14 fours and 10 sixes) and Travis Head (66 in 37 balls, with nine fours and three sixes) started off well with a 171-run partnership. After Head was dismissed, Abhishek continued to rage while Heinrich Klaasen (21*) and Ishan Kishan (9*) put some finishing touches, chasing down the mammoth total.

This is also the second-highest run chase in IPL history, with 262 chased by PBKS against defending champions Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) last year being at the top. SRH has risen to the eighth spot with two wins and four losses while PBKS is at sixth place, with three wins and two losses.

Reader Comments

J
James K.
Love the competitive spirit! This is what makes IPL so entertaining to watch. Head handled it like a champ - just good old Aussie banter 😆
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Sarah P.
That 171-run partnership was 🔥! Head and Abhishek completely dominated. Though I do think the umpires should've stepped in sooner with the arguing - sets a bad example for young fans.
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Rahul D.
Maxwell always gets emotional when he's hit for sixes 😂 Classic case of "can dish it out but can't take it"
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Meera S.
What an incredible match! 245 chased down with ease. Head's performance was outstanding, but Abhishek's 141 was just next level. IPL never disappoints!
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Tom W.
As an Australian cricket fan, it's funny seeing our boys go at each other in the IPL. Just shows how competitive they are. No hard feelings though - they'll be back to being mates after the tournament!
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Priya R.
While the banter is entertaining, I hope it doesn't cross the line. Sportsmanship should always come first. That said, what an incredible display of batting from both teams!

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Tags:
IPL 2024 Travis Head Glenn Maxwell Marcus Stoinis Cricket Banter Sunrisers Hyderabad Punjab Kings
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