Senuran Muthusamy picked the biggest stage available to him to deliver the defining innings of his career. The South African all-rounder raised his maiden Test century on Day 2 of the Guwahati Test, a calm, stubborn and eventually punishing knock that pushed India onto the back foot and gave the visitors control of the match. By lunch, South Africa had moved to 428 for 7 in 137 overs, with Muthusamy unbeaten on 107 off 203 balls. His innings included ten fours and two sixes, and came after an 88-run seventh-wicket stand with Kyle Verreynne, who was later stumped for 45 off 122. Marco Jansen joined him next and continued the same tempo, adding to a morning that steadily chipped away at India’s already stretched attack.
The resistance deepened India’s frustration, which was evident in stand-in captain Rishabh Pant’s stump-mic remarks. At one point, he told his bowlers, “Yaar 30 seconds ka timer hai,” adding, “Ghar pe khel rahe ho kya? Ek ball daal jaldi.” For Muthusamy, 31, the innings marked a major personal breakthrough. Born in Durban on 22 February 1994 to parents of Indian origin, he grew up with strong links to his Tamil heritage, with extended family still based in Nagapattinam, Tamil Nadu. His cricketing path began at Clifton School in Durban, where he also pursued academics. He also completed a degree in media and marketing, although cricket was to be his path. He then eventually made a name for himself with the Dolphins, and became a regular for the CSA 4-Day series first-class side in 2016/17, where he initially made his mark as a batter. He then put more focus on bowling and later completed the shift that turned him into a genuine all-rounder. That growth earned him a place in South Africa’s 2019 Test squad, where he dismissed Virat Kohli for his first scalp on debut in Visakhapatnam.
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Was Muthusamy’s maiden Test century a turning point for South Africa in this match?
In Guwahati, Muthusamy showed the full extent of that evolution. Patient early on and selective through the morning, he was in firm in control by the time he reached three figures. His knock, built on discipline rather than risk, ensured South Africa dictated terms through the session and kept India searching for answers as the Test moved deeper into Day 2.His ton also meant that he is the third South African batter to score a Test century from number 7 or lower against India. Quinton de Kock (111 in Visakhapatnam, 2019) and Lance Klusener (102* in Cape Town, 1997) were the other two to achieve this feat.Shortly after the final session of the day resumed, his magic run ended, with Mohammed Siraj dismissing him in his first ball after lunch, as Muthusamy holed one out to Jaiswal at fine-leg.
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