Australian-based Indian cricket supporters have had ample opportunity to watch their heroes in the flesh this summer.

The Indian squad landed on these shores in late November for their four-month tour of the Antipodes that was scheduled to feature up to 21 matches in seven different cities.

But the number of local and visiting Indian fans at this Cricket World Cup – both in Melbourne today and at the Adelaide Oval a week ago – indicates that, to them, the Tests and ODI tri-series that preceded this tournament were merely the entree before the main course.

Melbourne felt more like Mumbai today as Indian fans swamped the MCG in their tens of thousands for their side's clash against South Africa, with neutral and Proteas supporters significantly outnumbered by those in blue shirts.

Indian fans pack the MCG // Getty Images

The other boys in blue – the local constabulary – were put to good use in the hours before the game, directing traffic in the streets surrounding the MCG precinct as spectators arrived in numbers normally associated with the Boxing Day Test.

A turnstile malfunction created delays outside the ground with fans forced to wait patiently for their tickets to be scanned manually before they could enter the arena. But it didn't dampen their enthusiasm.

As the two captains walked to the middle for the toss, the queue outside the Members' Gate stretched back through Yarra Park, meaning the ground was barely half full when India's openers walked to the middle.

But once all ticketholders took t heir seats – or at least stood in their allocated positions – the atmosphere and volume was turned up to maximum.

India fans celebrate a six in unison // Getty Images

As is normally the case at the MCG, the biggest and loudest contingent of Indians based themselves on the eastern side of the ground, their assortment of flags, drums and banners swinging into action whenever a boundary or indeed a single was scored.

But unlike previous matches here, they weren't the minority.

The green, orange and white of Indian flags flew proudly in all parts of the ground when boundaries were struck.

Almost comically, one of the biggest cheers during the tense opening exchanges was not reserved for any of the combatants in the middle, but for a man who hasn't struck a ball in anger in almost 18 months.

When vision of Sachin Tendulkar sitting in a function room in the Members' Stand was splashed on the big screen, his dark sunglasses unable to mask his identity, it elicited a sudden burst of flag waving and cheering from his adoring disciples.

A group of fans even stood with their back to the middle of the ground for up to 30 minutes, preferring instead to glance up at their hero sitting in the level above them.

Sachin Tendulkar poses at the India v South Africa World Cup match in Melbourne // Getty Images

And as chants of "Sachiiiiin, Sachin" echoed around the ground, the crowd was brought to its feet again as India's new batting hero, Virat Kohli, blasted a Vernon Philander delivery to the cover boundary.

Those in blue may as well have stayed standing for most of India's innings as Kohli, Shikhar Dhawan, Ajinkya Rahane and MS Dhoni flayed South Africa's much hyped attack to boundaries that, in keeping with the ICC's Playing Conditions that restricts boundary length to a maximum of 90 yards, were in several metres from the fence in some parts of the ground.

Protea green was vastly outnumbered // Getty Images

Kohli's dismissal in the 28th over of the innings, caught at mid-wicket for a well-made 46, provided Proteas supporters with a rare chance to voice their support on an otherwise disappointing evening for one of the pre-tournament favourites.

But they were silenced just seven overs later when Dhawan brought up three figures, his seventh ODI century coming just seven days after a polished 73 against Pakistan.

Dhawan, like several of his teammates, has often been criticised for being far more proficient in India than when playing abroad.

Perhaps the sea of blue shirts that rose as one when he reached the milestone made it feel like home.