Sunil Gavaskar has lavished praise on South Africa and in particular captain Graeme Smith after their crushing win over India.

The Proteas stunned the top-ranked Test side by winning the first match of their two-game series by an innings and six runs inside four days and a draw in the next Test in Kolkata will help Smith and his team regain the number one spot it lost last year.

Speaking in Nagpur, Indian batting legend Gavaskar, was amazed by the way the visitors managed to so easily walk over their opponents, especially after developments of recent weeks, which saw Mickey Arthur resign as coach and the board of selectors dismissed.

"There was obviously a lot of turmoil in the South African camp following the departure of the coach and the sacking of the selection committee," he said.

"Smith may not have got runs in this Test match but the way he pulled the team together to play such competitive and intense cricket on all four days says a lot about his leadership skills."

The South African skipper managed just six runs at the Vidarbha Cricket Association Stadium, before watching Hashim Amla (253 not out), Jacques Kallis (173) and Dale Steyn (with match figures of 10 for 108) set up the win.

The second Test starts at Eden Gardens on Sunday.