"To do something like that in a World Cup is very special for me personally. There's no better feeling than winning a game of cricket when you're up against it.
"More than anything I can't wait to get back in the dressing room and celebrate with the boys."
Despite the formidable nature of the target, built around rapid half-centuries from Quinton de Kock, Hashim Amla and JP Duminy, Root claims England never felt out of the game.
Instead, having seen Chris Gayle tear them apart with a 47-ball century in their previous outing at the Wankhede Stadium, they saw an opportunity to make their mark on the tournament.
"You've always got a chance in this format of the game, especially with the performers we've got in that dressing room," he said.
"Chris' innings showed us anything is possible in these conditions on a wicket like that.
"Eoin Morgan just said 'go out and play, keep believing we can do something special'.
"Thankfully it all came off and we got across the line. This is a talented group of players who are capable of doing special things.
"We've proved that and now it's about being consistent for the rest of the competition."
Morgan added: "Honestly, I felt we would have felt to play out of our skin to chase them.
"But there's a lot of talent in our team if we play with freedom.
ICC T20 World Cup 2016: Schedule, live streaming, UK start times, TV coverage and odds
(Scott Barbour/Getty Images)
"It's been going for just under a year now and we've had some big chases. But to get a start like that, Roy and (Alex) Hales were outstanding.
"We'll take a lot of confidence."
South Africa saw plenty of Root over the winter, with a Test hundred in Johannesburg and two more during the one-day series between the sides, and Duminy likes what he sees.
"He's definitely been the man in form," he said.
"He's always had that sort of demeanour about him, a calm head, assessing the situation, he's been the anchor of their team no matter what format."
