Cape Town - Sunday was a special day.
The Proteas crushed India by a mammoth 214 runs in the fifth and final ODI in Mumbai and secured the series win in the process.
Three centurions in South Africa's innings of 438/4 somewhat lessened the blow of watching the Springboks crash out of the Rugby World Cup, and captain AB de Villiers highlighted the enormity of the match with his comments afterwards.
"It was obviously a huge game … final … history on the line. With that regard, definitely the biggest game and the best I’ve captained," De Villiers said.
"It was just a complete performance with bat and ball and I’m very proud of the boys."
The Proteas captain was in superb form, hitting the Indian attack to all corners as he eased his way to 119 off 61 balls, striking 11 sixes and three fours in the process.
The Wankhede crowd, despite the inevitability that with each lusty blow their chances of an Indian victory were disappearing, could not help but applaud the genius of De Villiers' knock.
"I’d like to think that nothing has changed. I’m still the same guy and I keep my feet on the ground," De Villiers said of how the affection had affected him.
"It’s very humbling to hear the crowd cheer for me like that. I can only be thankful and blessed with the opportunities I’ve had in my life and to experience these kinds of things … I’ll never forget."
The Proteas now take on India in a four-match Test series that begins on November 5.