From Doubt to Defining Innings: Senuran Muthusamy Reflects on Test Cricket return
Senuran Muthusamy is savoring a career highlight – a game-changing 109 against India - a moment made all the sweeter by a challenging journey back to Test cricket. After a difficult debut series in India in 2019, were he secured only two wickets across two Tests, muthusamy openly questioned his future in the format.
“There were times, especially after 2019, where I wasn’t sure if I’d ever play Test cricket again and certainly not in India after we lost that series,” Muthusamy admitted. He acknowledged a period of uncertainty following that initial experience.
The south African all-rounder’s fortunes began to turn with a prosperous tour of Pakistan in 2025, where he claimed 11 wickets in the first Test and contributed a crucial 89 not out in the second. This resurgence paved the way for his impactful innings against India, arriving at the crease with the Proteas struggling at 201/5.
Muthusamy emphasized the importance of support during his time away from the Test arena. “so just really grateful for the support that I’ve got back home, for the people that are really close with me, the coaches, the support staff here, the players, my family back home, my friends. they’ve been incredible.” He also credited work with sports scientist Cheryl Calder for enhancing his performance.
Following his 2019 debut, Muthusamy waited four years for his third Test appearance, dedicating himself to the ”hard grind of domestic cricket” to regain his place in the national setup. He expressed gratitude for the chance to return to India and deliver a strong performance.
While Muthusamy’s ancestors originate from Nagapattinam in Tamil Nadu, he has yet to visit his family’s native town, though his mother and aunts have made the journey. He identifies as an all-rounder, aiming to contribute to the team with both his spin bowling and batting.
Muthusamy also praised the contributions of teammates Kyle Verreynne and Marco Jansen during Sunday’s play. He lauded Verreynne’s resilience against the new ball and Jansen’s powerful striking ability,noting his success in Indian T20 competitions. ”He’s got fantastic levers. He’s a clean striker of the ball and he really, really showed his skills today,” Muthusamy said of Jansen.
