Virat Kohli could face investigation into journalist claims

Virat Kohli could face action after the Hindustan Times complained to the BCCI and ICC over the India vice-captain verbally abusing one of their journalists.

Kohli lost his cool with the reporter at the Murdoch Oval, apparently without provocation, with the remaining media presence and ICC officials watching in shock.

It emerged later that Kohli had mistaken the writer for another journalist who had written a story about his girlfriend Anushka Sharma during the tour of England last summer.

An India team spokesman sought to play down the "misunderstanding" on Wednesday and insisted the 26-year-old batsman had offered his apologies directly to the journalist.

“There was a misunderstanding and no abusive language was used, Virat has spoken to the concerned gentlemen immediately and (the) matter ends," the spokesman said.

But that denial was rejected in a further Hindustan Times editorial piece that confirmed a complaint had been filed with the game's governing body.

Their report read: "(There was) hardly any clarity on what the misunderstanding was all about and he did not reply further to any clarification sought on the statement he issued.

"The statement also completely misses the point that had Virat not done anything what did he speak to the concerned gentleman about? HT can vouch for the fact that Virat has not clarified anything to the concerned gentleman and neither was the air cleared.

"Virat had in fact waved to another reporter of a vernacular tabloid and told him it was a case of mistaken identity and he in turn tried to play a go-between.

"The way the team management is trying to live in denial, is sending out another wrong signal to the players who instead of being ashamed of their future captain's behaviour are actually thinking that they can get away with anything.

"HT has filed a formal complaint to the ICC and the BCCI."

Kohli is set to take over as India's new Test captain following Mahendra Singh Dhoni's decision to step down from the post after the series defeat to Australia in January.

India have won their three games at the World Cup to sit top of Pool B and are preparing to face the West Indies at the WACA on Friday.