Hopefully our bowlers scared a few Indian batsmen: AB de Villiers

South Africa took an unassailable 2-0 lead in the three-match ODI series against India and captain AB de Villiers felt that his team ought to be proud of beating the top-ranked ODI side in the world.

The hosts clinched the series after winning the second ODI here by 134 runs.

"Winning seven out of our last ten ODIs means we are definitely on the right track. There have been problems for us when it comes to consistency. We have been going through some tough times over the last two years in ODI cricket and sort of building a team," said De Villiers.

"We have been sticking with the same players for a while now and we are enjoying our cricket. The results are starting to come through but we are nowhere where we want to be. But obviously, winning the series against the No.1 side in the world is very satisfying. It is something we can really be proud of," he added. (Related: Don't be judgmental on India's batting, says Amla)

South Africa put up 281 runs on the board, after a wet outfield delayed the start of the match and the contest was reduced to 49 overs per side. In reply, India were bundled out for 146 in 35.1 overs. (2nd ODI, as it happened)

Quinton de Kock and Hashim Amla put on 194 runs for the first wicket and in doing so, brought up their individual hundreds. The middle order didn't fire though and it was left to Ryan McLaren and Vernon Philander to give them a push in the death overs.

"Hashim and Quinton have been giving us really good starts. I was chuffed at how the lower order scored some runs. Those were very important runs. They just got us over that par score, which I thought was 230-240," De Villiers said. (Amla fastest to 4000 ODI runs)

"Quinny (De Kock) is obviously showing he has got the skill and the talent to keep wickets in all three formats of the game. Maybe he still has got to gain a bit of experience when it comes to Tests. It is up to the selectors to decide, and the coach and the captain to make that call." (Related: De Kock's second successive ton)

In India's chase, Dale Steyn shared seven wickets with Lonwabo Tsotsobe as they ripped apart the visitors' batting.

"Our batsmen set up the win. When you have got the runs on the board the opposition is under pressure. It gave the bowlers a lot of freedom to express their talent, the pace and bounce that is talked about. Hopefully we did scare a few of their batsmen going into the final ODI and the Test series too," de Villiers said.

"It's always nice to scare a few batsmen going into a big series like this, especially with the batting line-up the Indian team has. They are very talented and to get under their skin is always important, especially in home conditions," he added.

In the third and final ODI between the sides at Centurion on December 11, De Villiers said a few senior players could be rested.

"We might rest some of the older guys. Jacques Kallis might have to rest going into a big Test series. Dale Steyn may be as well, but Morne Morkel had a good rest against Pakistan. So we will talk about it," he said.

"But I don't believe in dead rubbers. There is a lot of pride to play for. It will be massive for us to beat them 3-0. They are still a world-class unit and we will always have respect for them as a team," he added.