Smith hails 'outstanding' Ntini

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Ntini took six wickets, including three for 44 runs in the second innings, as the Proteas bowled out India for 328 to win by an innings and 90 runs.

"Makhaya has been outstanding throughout this series," a delighted Smith said. "He produced a critical spell (in the first test) at Chennai when he got rid of Virender Sehwag and Sachin Tendulkar and got us back into the game. And, again here in the second Test, he got the all-important wicket at the start in both innings."

He added: "He then came back to get the key wicket of (Mahendra Singh) Dhoni when they were making a fight of things and he then finished off the match perfectly for us."

South Africa's tour of the subcontinent is the first since the retirement of renowned all-rounder Shaun Pollock, but Smith believes Ntini is a capable replacement to spearhead the attack.

"Now that Polly (Shaun Pollock) has retired, Makhaya has taken over the role of being the senior player and the leader of the attack," Smith said.

"This has been particularly important as his fast bowling colleagues are far younger and less experienced than he is.

"Dale (Steyn, Ntini's fellow opening bowler) has had a fabulous year so far but he needs the leadership that Makhaya is providing."

Steyn took eight wickets in the match, including five for 23 in the first innings, allowing batsman AB de Villiers to score the first double-hundred by a South African against India.

"It was the perfect Test match," a delighted Smith said. "We were in control from the very first ball and the guys never let up for a moment. I am very proud of everybody. It was a true team effort."