He also talked about how the Indian batsmen have not conserved their wickets in accordance with conditions here, conceding an unassailable 2-0 series' lead.
"Shami is a good bowler. He could play for South Africa and fit into their pace attack very well," de Villiers told PTI after Shami took 4-49 in the second innings at Centurion.
"He has a beautiful out-swinger, runs in hard, bowls at 140s, and most importantly, he consistently bowls that line to first slip. He bowls the line Glenn McGrath did, Shaun Pollick did, Ian Botham did, Dale Steyn does, and so, he is Indias best Test bowler."
"When you are bowling in South Africa, it is important to have that away-swinging line. Shami has that. Hardik Pandya has that too, but he doesnt have too much pace. Until he gets that pace he will not be a big wicket-taker.
More From This Section
"He will fit into Indias overseas plans very well though, because he bowls that away-swinging line. Bhuvneshwar Kumar also has that, but he didnt play in Centurion," he said.
Indias team selection has been a point of sharp debate with skipper Virat Kohli even losing his cool in the post- Centurion press conference when asked about his tendency to change the playing eleven in every match.
"I am genuinely surprised that Kumar didnt play. He should be playing all overseas Test matches for India. He is someone who can take the ball away from right-handers and then bring it back into left-handers as well.
"That is the future of world cricket on quicker wickets and this has been the past. Jasprit Bumrah bowled well, but he primarily bowls into the right-hander, or bowls into the stumps. Even on flat wickets like Centurion, Kumar can average 4 wickets per match. It was a big mistake not picking him, said de Villiers.
"He cannot, because he bowls an incoming delivery into the bat. Kumar can do it, Shami can do it, and they have done it before if I am not mistaken, because they have the away going delivery. So, Shami is your future, Kumar is your future, and they bowl quick enough to be in that category. Even Pandya is your future (if he adds a little pace)."
Whilst full of praise for Kohlis 21st Test hundred, he said the other Indian batsmen have shown a complete lack of perseverance to bat in South African conditions.
"No traveling team is doing well nowadays. Even one match is not enough. You need to play 3, 4 or even 5 practice matches, like during old English tours when you played different counties, and then play the first Test.
The former pacer feels switching from one-day mode to Tests is the biggest challenge for the Indian team.
"The biggest problem with Indian batsmen is how much ODI and T20 cricket they play, not conditions. They need to detox from limited-overs cricket and start getting into Test mode.
"He started off with 40-50 strike-rate, and then as he batted longer, he reduced it to 30-35 strike-rate. He becomes conservative on such pitches because one ball can get you out. No Indian batsman, except Virat, did that," he added.
India now stand on the brink of a 3-0 whitewash with the third Test starting at the Wanderers (Johannesburg) on January 24.
When asked if the No.1 Test side in world cricket could avoid this fate, de Villiers replied, "They had their chance at Centurion. It was a wicket tailor-made for India, not South Africa. I dont think Wanderers will be a friendlier wicket than that."
"In these conditions, you will get out playing too many shots. In India you dont get out, and the way they are playing now, if they play 10 Tests overseas, they will lose 9 out of 10. I expect better from the World no.1 Test side," he signed off.