Faulkner banter 'just for fun': Kohli

Indian star Virat Kohli says his recent on-field exchanges with Australia allrounder James Faulkner have been "just for fun", adding the on-field chat during this Victoria Bitter ODI series has been more good-natured than during previous tours of Australia.

Discussions between Kohli and Faulkner have twice been picked up by stump microphones during the ODI series; the Indian star remarked "I've smashed you enough in my life ... just go and bowl" during game three in Melbourne, while the pair were at it again in Canberra on Wednesday when Kohli suggested Faulkner was "fast asleep" after missing a run-out opportunity.

Kohli has been no stranger to some on-field chat during previous series against Australia, the combative right-hander often getting under the skin of his opponents for more than just his prolific run-scoring.

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It has resulted in several flashpoints during matches between the two nations, such as the heated exchanges during the Adelaide Test last summer that saw Kohli, teammate Shikhar Dhawan and Australia's David Warner fined.

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Kohli says he doesn't walk out to bat with a plan to engage with the Australian players, but is happy to indulge in some light-hearted banter if the situation arises.

"To be honest it's just for fun," Kohli said ahead of the fifth and final match of the series in Sydney on Saturday.

"Honestly it becomes irrelevant after a point because I don't go out onto the field thinking that I want to fight with someone.

"I'm in a good headspace and I'm pretty happy with where I stand and I'm trying my best for the team every time I go out there.

"I just like to make a bit of fun of any kind of argument out on the field.

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"It's very different from the last few instances; this time it's been more cheeky and fun statements rather than guys swearing at each other or using bad words. Which I think is fair enough on the field.

"People watching should have some fun as well when they're watching the game. I think it makes the sport more entertaining.

"These things really don't bother me. I'm just having a bit of fun out there because you're playing stressful cricket all the time.

"There's no harm in having a little cheeky chat with your opponent sometimes."

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Kohli's verbal sparring against Australia has regularly been backed up by some even bigger blows from his bat; the Indian star averages 58 from 32 matches in this country since his first tour here in 2011-12.

It led former captain Sourav Ganguly to declare this week that Kohli is ahead of Sachin Tendulkar and VVS Laxman as the best Indian batsman he's seen in Australian conditions, considered one of the toughest countries for any touring batsman.

While the 27-year-old has often split public opinion, many locals have also grown to respect and enjoy his approach that mirrors that of some of the Australian players they know and love.

Kohli is aware of the affection some Australians have for him and says his upbringing in Delhi, a heaving city of more than 15 million people, was crucial in forming his attitudes to the game.

"That's the way I've always played," he said. "Maybe it relates to the Australian public more because the players here obviously have a similar approach to the game where they don't like to back off from an argument on the field.

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"I come from a city where you always had to fight your way up the system and I think things that happen in your life make you mentally tougher and things don't bother you after a while because you know you're working hard enough.

"You don't really go out there and take unnecessary things being said to you from anyone.

"I follow that in life and I follow that in cricket as well because as long as I'm working hard, I don't really need to explain myself to anyone or go out there and prove to anyone that I haven't done anything wrong.

"If I've done something wrong I will know it myself and I will say it.

"I think that's where it comes from and that's the kind of attitude you see with people in Australia as well. Maybe that's why they can connect with it a little bit.

"But I've never taken it seriously. I don't take it along with me everywhere that people think I'm more Australian than Indian.

"It's just something that might connect to them and they feel that way, but this is the way I've always been."