Travis Head opens up about his bond with Indian cricket fans

Australian cricketer Travis Head, who is currently playing for SunRisers Hyderabad (SRH) in the Indian Premier League (IPL), has opened up about passionate Indian cricket fans. Even though he often faces criticism from Indian fans for his strong performances against their team, he believes he shares a unique "love-hate" relationship with them.

Head has been one of the key players in Australia's recent success against India, playing a major role in their victories in both the ICC World Test Championship and the ODI World Cup finals in 2023. Despite the reactions he gets from fans, he admires the cricket culture in India.

"I respect how big cricket is in India. It's an amazing experience to play here. I've been lucky to perform well in some big matches, and I take the fans' reactions in a fun way. Some comments are quite funny, but they don't affect me. I focus on playing my game and enjoying myself," he said.

He further added, "In the last 18 months, I have played against India quite a few times and performed well, but India has also done well against us. So, I definitely feel the connection with the fans."

SRH have struggled in the IPL so far, winning just one out of their first three matches. However, one positive for the team has been Head's form. He is currently their top scorer with 136 runs in three games, averaging over 45.

SRH will face Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) in their next match on Thursday. Historically, KKR have dominated this fixture, winning 19 out of the 28 matches played between the two teams, while SRH have won only 9.

The match will be played at Eden Gardens, Kolkata, where a massive crowd is expected. According to Cricket Association of Bengal (CAB) president Snehasish Ganguly, around 50,000 fans are likely to attend the game.