Kerry O'Keeffe, the former Australian cricketer, has apologized for labeling Virat Kohli as "arrogant." He made the comment while criticizing Kohli for bumping into Australian debutant Sam Konstas during the first day of the Boxing Day Test at the Melbourne Cricket Ground. O'Keeffe remarked that Kohli has built his career on arrogance and suggested that he was upset to see a newcomer matching his intensity.

On Thursday, O'Keeffe stated, "Kohli has built his whole career on arrogance. Suddenly, he identified that in a debutant and seemed to resent it."

However, the 75-year-old recognized his error and offered an apology on the second day of the Test. "I want to apologize for calling Virat Kohli's behavior arrogance. I shouldn't have said that. He has got a swagger and plays his cricket like that. I think when he saw another player showing swagger like him, he got a bit annoyed and reacted in that fashion. Kohli is a passionate cricketer, and his aggression is what makes him competitive," O'Keeffe explained. He played for Australia in 24 Tests and two ODIs from 1971 to 1977.

Kohli fined by the ICC for making physical contact with Sam Konstas

Kohli got hit with a fine of 20% of his match fee for breaking Level 1 of the ICC Code of Conduct. He violated Article 2.12, which deals with “inappropriate physical contact with a Player, Player Support Personnel, Umpire, Match Referee, or anyone else (including a spectator during an International Match).”

On top of that, he received one demerit point on his record, marking his first offense in the last 24 months.

The whole thing went down at the end of the 10th over during Australia’s innings when Kohli carelessly bumped shoulders with batter Sam Konstas.

Kohli owned up to the mistake and accepted the penalty suggested by Andy Pycroft from the Emirates ICC Elite Panel of Match Referees, so there was no need for a formal hearing.

The on-field umpires—Joel Wilson and Michael Gough, along with third umpire Sharfuddoula Ibne Shahid and fourth umpire Shawn Craig—were the ones who brought the charge.

Level 1 violations can lead to a minimum penalty of an official reprimand, a maximum fine of 50% of a player’s match fee, and one or two demerit points.

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