AB de Villiers-led South Africa's ODI Series Win vs India Was Studded with Records

Sunil Gavaskar called him the "superman" of world cricket. Indeed, AB de Villiers led from the front as South Africa scripted their first bilateral ODI series win in India in record-breaking style. In Mumbai on Sunday, South Africa steamrolled India by 214 runs, a result that left India's team management shaking at its roots.

South Africa could not have asked for a better start to the four-Test series starting in Mohali on November 5. Victories in the Twenty20 and ODI may mean nothing in the five-day format, but India's helpless bowling attack is surely going to haunt them in the Test series. The top four bowlers in the ODI series were all South Africans. With seven wickets, Bhuvneshwar Kumar was a distant fifth (in terms of economy rate).

The fifth and deciding ODI belonged to the South Africans. Numerous records were created as India's bowlers, minus lead spinner Ravichandran Ashwin, was flogged mercilessly by the top and middle-order Proteas batsmen.

Quinton de Kock, Faf du Plessis and de Villiers all scored centuries. This was only the second time in ODI history that one side had provided three centurions. The previous occasion was also by South Africa against the West Indies earlier this year when De Villiers, Hashim Amla and Rilee Rossouw all passed the three-figure mark

The South African total of 438/4 was the highest ever in the sub-continent. Remarkably, no ODI at Wankhede between two full member countries had produced a total of even 300 previously.

The Proteas went on to make 229 runs in the last 20 overs and 134 in the last 10. None of the three Indian specialist spinners were able to take a wicket until the final over of the innings. This was a huge step forward as India rely on their spinners for wickets in the middle overs.

Other records

# Hashim Amla became the quickest player to score 6000 ODI runs, 13 innings quicker than India's Virat Kohli

# De Villiers scored an SA record 23rd ODI century

# De Kock became the quickest player to score 8 ODI centuries, beating an Amla record.

# SA's margin of victory was their biggest ever over India

# South Africa's 2nd and 3rd wicket partnerships of 154 and 211 were both ground records and the latter was also a South African record against India

De Villiers, who was named Man of the Series, De Kock, who was named Man of the Match, and Du Plessis all had aggregates in excess of 300 for the series while Dale Steyn and Kagiso Rabada were the joint leading wicket-takers with 10 each. They had almost identical strike rates of 28.1 and 28.2.

It was a great day for South African cricket and it is worth reflecting that they had to do without two senior players, JP Duminy and Morne Morkel for the last two matches, and Rilee Rossouw for the entire series.

For Sunday's match, the Proteas brought in Dean Elgar to give an extra batting option and Kyle Abbott for Chris Morris and Aaron Phangiso. In the end Elgar only got to face 2 balls and was not needed to bowl as Farhaan Behardien bowled 8 overs and the Indian innings only lasted 36 overs.