Rohit Sharma smashed 106 off 66 balls as India piled up 199-5 after being sent in to bat by South Africa in the first Twenty20 international in Dharamsala on Friday.
Virat Kohli hit a 27-ball 43 and skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni finished the innings with a six as the hosts waded into the Proteas attack in front of a sell-out crowd of 23,000 at the picturesque venue.
Sharma plundered 12 boundaries and five sixes in his maiden T20 century, displaying a spectacular array of strokes all round the ground.
Kohli became the first Indian batsman to score 1,000 T20 runs as he blazed his way to three sixes and a four.
The pair put on 138 off 74 balls for the second wicket after Shikhar Dhawan was run out for three attempting a second run.
India were coasting at 160-1 in the 16th over before the tourists hit back with four wickets in the final overs.
Sharma, who pulled Chris Morris for a six early in his innings, brought up his half-century by steering Kyle Abbott to the third man fence for his eighth boundary.
Sharma lofted Imran Tahir to mid-wicket to raise India’s 100 in the 12th over, the first of three sixes the leg-spinner conceded in the over.
The next over from young fast bowler Kagiso Rabada produced 14 runs with Sharma taking two sixes as India raced to 129-1 in 13 overs.
Both Kohli and Sharma were dismissed in the 16th over bowled by Abbott as they hit out to boost the total, but South Africa were still left to chase 200 for a victory.
South Africa are to play three T20 matches, five one-day internationals and four Tests during their 10-week tour of India.