India’s one-day vice-captain Virat Kohli has apologised to a journalist after verbally abusing him following a training session in Perth.

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Kohli stunned onlookers on Tuesday when he walked over to and shouted at a Hindustan Times journalist without apparent provocation.

The incident has drawn headlines in India with reports suggesting Kohli had incorrectly identified the writer as another journalist who had written about his private life.

An India 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.

Reports suggested that once Kohli had realised his case of mistaken identity at the training ground he sent another journalist over to say sorry on his behalf.

That apology was, however, not initially accepted.

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 will play West Indies at the WACA on Friday.