From Doubt to Definingโค Innings: Senuran Muthusamy Reflects on Test Cricket return
Senuran Muthusamyโ is savoring a career highlight – aโ game-changing 109 against India โข- โa โขmoment made all the sweeter by a challenging โฃjourney back to Test cricket. โAfter a difficult debut series in India in 2019, were he secured only two wickets acrossโฃ two Tests, muthusamyโ openly questioned his โฃfuture in the format.
“There were times, especially afterโค 2019, where I wasn’t sure if I’d ever play โขTest โฃcricketโข again and certainly not in India after we lost that series,” Muthusamy admitted. He acknowledged a period of uncertainty following that initialโค experience.
The south African all-rounder’s fortunes began toโข turn with a prosperous tour of Pakistanโ in 2025, where he claimed 11 โฃwickets โin the first Test and contributed a crucial 89 not out in the second. This resurgence paved the wayโค for his impactful innings against India, arriving โat the crease with the Proteas struggling at 201/5.
Muthusamy emphasized the importance of support during his time away from the Testโฃ arena. “so just really grateful for the support thatโ I’ve got โฃback home, for the people that are really โคclose with me, theโข coaches, the support staff here, the players, my โfamily back home, my friends. they’ve been incredible.” He also credited work with sports scientist Cheryl Calder forโค enhancing his performance.
Following his 2019โ debut, Muthusamy waited four years forโข his third Test appearance, dedicating himself to the โ”hard grind of โdomestic cricket” โคto regain โฃhis place in the national setup. He โคexpressed โgratitude for theโ chance to return toโ India and โฃdeliver a strong performance.
While Muthusamy’sโข ancestors originate from Nagapattinam in Tamil Nadu, he has yet to visitโค his family’s native town, though his mother and aunts have made the journey. He identifiesโ as an โขall-rounder, aiming to contribute to the team with both hisโ spin bowling and batting.
Muthusamy also praised theโค contributions of teammates Kyle Verreynne and Marco Jansen during Sunday’s play. Heโ lauded โVerreynne’s resilience against the new ball and Jansen’s powerful striking ability,notingโ his success in Indian T20 competitions. โฃ”He’s got fantastic โlevers. He’s a clean striker of the ballโ and heโ really, really showed his skills today,” Muthusamyโค said of Jansen.