Tensions set to rise in SCG Test

A dead rubber is supposed to be dull and meaningless, but the final Commonwealth Bank Test between Australia and India looms as the most heated in the four-match series.

MS Dhoni's Test retirement means firebrand Virat Kohli will captain India at the SCG, as he did at Adelaide Oval when tempers first started to flare.

Kohli claimed the hosts erred in sledging him during a Test-best knock of 169 in Melbourne, but don't expect a change in Australian tactics.

"Oh, no. We haven't started yet," coach Darren Lehmann said with a wry grin, when asked if it was a mistake to bait the in-form batsman who has scored 499 runs this series.

Kohli was one of three players fined for misconduct in the first Test.

Quick Single: Aggressive Kohli ushers in new era

He was even more pugnacious at the MCG where a draw gave Australia an unassailable 2-0 lead in the series.

Kohli regularly quarrelled with Mitchell Johnson and Brad Haddin throughout the match.

"It's very hard for them (Australia) to stay calm ... it really excites me and brings the best out of me, so they don't seem to be learning their lesson," Kohli taunted after day three.

The forthright nature of Kohli's press conference, in which he also said he had "no reason" to respect some Australian cricketers, was poorly received by the opposition.

Ryan Harris and David Warner both criticised Kohli for airing grievances in the media, while Lehmann adopted a similar tone when asked about the conduct of both sides.

"It's been interesting hasn't it? Quite heated. As long as it stays on the field that's the thing for us," Lehmann said.

"It's a case of playing the way we want to play and leave it on the field.

"As long as it's 90 overs a day and it's played in a tough, fair spirit I'm OK."

Kohli was booed to the crease by some sections of the MCG crowd on day five.

In 2012, during Kohli's most recent Test at the SCG, the right-hander was fined 50 per cent of his match fee for an abusive gesture when he flipped the bird to fans in the outer.

Lehmann was unwilling to be drawn on a particularly unsavoury incident in Melbourne on day four, when Kohli made a beeline for Haddin after the 37-year-old walked out to bat with the game in the balance.

"That's between them. I don't know what was said," Lehmann said.

Quick Single: Haddin fires verbal barrage at Kohli

Haddin returned serve on Tuesday, walking toward Kohli and applauding his running between the wickets after a mix-up almost resulted in a run-out.

"It's all about you," Haddin mocked.

Johnson, who was on the receiving end of a verbal send-off on day four, made light of his chief antagonist.

"Kohli hasn't been sledging. It's been more him talking about himself," Johnson told the Nine Network on Tuesday.