Tendulkar provides inspiration to Kohli

India star Virat Kohli says he got great satisfaction from being able to play a match-winning innings for his country in front of cricketing great Sachin Tendulkar.

Tendulkar was looking on from the stands as Kohli guided India across the line with a brilliant knock against arch rivals Pakistan at Eden Gardens on Saturday.

Kohli contributed an unbeaten 55 from 37 deliveries, taking control of a high pressure situation to ensure India chased down Pakistan's total of 5-118 and won for the first time at the World Twenty20 tournament.

For Kohli it was an emotional innings, with the 27-year-old taking great pride in being able to perform on the big stage in front of Tendulkar.

"I can’t express the feeling," Kohli told BCCI.TV after the victory. 

"My brother is here as well and Sachin Tendulkar was up there in the stands.

"I have seen Sachin paaji (big brother) do that for India for years together and seen how people shout for him and now I have gotten a chance to do it in front of him and he is celebrating.

"I cannot explain that feeling as a youngster who has grown up playing cricket because of him. 

"To be able to do it in front of him and give him happiness; I am very grateful for it and it is a very emotional moment."

At one stage during his innings Kohli was seen bowing towards Tendulkar in the stands and the India star said his innings was one of his best.

"That's what you need, a little testing wicket, a good bowling attack and you pulling the team out of trouble," he said.

"I think that's what gives you great pleasure as a cricketer."

Kohli has a remarkable Twenty20 record for India when batting second - the right hander averages a whopping 109.16 in victorious run chases for his country - and his skipper enjoys having him on his side.

"His biggest plus is he takes everything as a challenge," India captain MS Dhoni said of Kohli.

"He wants to improve. He wants to contribute in each and every game. That's what it's all about. 

"Because he wants to contribute, he wants to score runs, he prepares well. 

"He takes care of his fitness. He knows, he understands now how on different wickets he is supposed to bat so that he can score runs."

Dhoni said Kohli was an extremely hard worker and all his efforts are paying off.

"We all know once he gets a start, he always converts it into a big innings, which I feel is one of the most important things for any youngster coming into the game," Dhoni said.

"When you are scoring runs, you make sure you score a lot of runs, because everybody will go through a bad patch [at some stage]. 

"What you have to do is try to minimize that duration. And the best way is if you are going through a purple patch, make sure you score a lot of runs."