A thrilling first Test in Adelaide went down to the wire as Murali Vijay (99) and Kohli (141) put on a partnership that had threatened to chase down an unlikely 364 for victory on day five.
Nathan Lyon's first Test 10-for put paid to Indian hopes though, as Australia sealed a nervy 48-run victory.
Kohli scored swiftly to compile his best test total and, upon his return to the side from a fractured thumb, Dhoni wants to maintain that momentum from their heroic, if ultimately failed run chase.
India will look to level the four-game series when the second Test gets under way in Brisbane on Wednesday, with their inspirational captain in bullish mood.
"He has been fantastic," Dhoni said of his deputy. "Not only as a captain but also as a leader, even in the ODIs that he has led in.
"He is an aggressive character and is slightly different to what I am.
"What he did throughout the Test was great and especially his approach towards his own batting was fantastic.
"He had a lean series in England and it was good to see the way he prepared for this series and then the way he went out there and batted.
"He kept mixing it up. He wasn't attacking over the top. He gave an in-and-out field to Karn [Sharma] at times and when he felt he could put the pressure on the batsmen, he brought in the fielders close.
"That is how cricket is played now, you have to see the momentum and decide when to attack or back off slightly. He did fantastically well in that regard.
"I thought it was the right approach that we went for the target.
"With the partnership [between Vijay and Kohli], we were in a position to chase down the target. Unfortunately Vijay got out and we lost a few more wickets.
"From there it would have been very difficult to play for a draw and the only right approach was to go for the win. Our approach will remain the same in the coming Tests."