A collective effort, boosted by several individual moments of brilliance, saw South Africa hand India a record defeat in the second Test to complete a series sweep on Day 5 in Guwahati on Wednesday.
Skipper Temba Bavuma said his South Africa team had written their names in history after romping to a 2-0 Test whitewash in India on Wednesday.
It was South Africa's first Test win in India since 2010 and Bavuma led by example.
Temba Bavuma was on Monday named as captain of South Africa's squad for two World Test Championship matches in India next month having recovered from injury.
South Africa captain Temba Bavuma said the massive, joyous welcome his team received when returning home on Wednesday from their World Test Championship final triumph was a sign of how special the achievement was.
Gabela, 35, said: "I had to be here and welcome the boys home. They have suffered so many heartbreaks during the past two decades. Now we are champions of the world."
When Temba Bavuma went out to bat on Day 3 of the ICC World Test Championship final against Australia on Friday, the odds were firmly against him and his side.
South Africa batting chief Ashwell Prince said captain Temba Bavuma was approaching a "defining moment" in his career after the batter's gutsy innings on Friday helped take the Proteas to the brink of World Test Championship final glory against Australia at Lord's.
Aiden Markram's superb century on Friday left South Africa on the brink of a dramatic victory in the World Test Championship final against Australia after decades of heartbreak in major tournaments.
When Temba Bavuma went out to bat on Day 3 of the ICC World Test Championship final against Australia on Friday, the odds were firmly against him and his side.
South Africa batting chief Ashwell Prince said captain Temba Bavuma was approaching a "defining moment" in his career after the batter's gutsy innings on Friday helped take the Proteas to the brink of World Test Championship final glory against Australia at Lord's.
Aiden Markram's superb century on Friday left South Africa on the brink of a dramatic victory in the World Test Championship final against Australia after decades of heartbreak in major tournaments.
Mitchell Starc starred with bat and ball to leave Australia well-placed in their World Test Championship final against South Africa at Lord's on Friday.
South Africa fought back at the start of the second day of the World Test Championship final against Australia but had captain Temba Bavuma dismissed before going to lunch on 121-5, still trailing by 91 runs.
The Ultimate Test nears closer as the two best teams, South Africa and Australia, do battle for the World Test Championship mace from 11 June.
The two former Trophy champions meet for the first time in the event's history in Rawalpindi today (3pm, Bangladesh Time), having each won their first games in Group B.
Captain Temba Bavuma hailed what he termed South Africa’s brave decision to bat first in their comprehensive 107-run Champions Trophy win over Afghanistan on Friday as they mastered a Karachi wicket that had left both teams unsure over how it would play.
Only once before in their history have South Africa won more Tests in succession, when they claimed nine victories on the trot between 2002 and 2003.
Ryan Rickelton played a breakthrough innings as South Africa dominated the first day of the second Test against Pakistan at Newlands on Friday.
