Senuran Muthusamy scores maiden Test century against India in emotional Guwahati comeback

On the second day of the second Test in Guwahati, Senuran Muthusamy didn’t just score a century—he reclaimed his place in cricket history. The 31-year-old South African all-rounder, batting at number seven in his eighth Test, reached his maiden Test hundred with 109 runs off 192 balls, helping South Africa post a commanding 489 all out against India at the Indira Gandhi Athletic Stadium. It wasn’t just a personal milestone. It was redemption.

A Journey Through Doubt

Muthusamy’s path to this moment was anything but smooth. He first stepped onto Indian soil as a Test player in 2019, in Visakhapatnam, where he scored 33 and 49 not out. But the dream quickly soured. In Pune, he managed just nine and seven runs across two innings. The performances were forgettable. The selectors moved on. For years, he was a ghost in the South African setup. "There were moments," he admitted after the innings, "when I questioned whether I’d ever play Test cricket again—especially here in India." He didn’t vanish entirely. He played one Test in 2023, barely made an impact. But in 2025, something shifted. In the drawn series against Pakistan, he took 11 wickets and scored 106 runs. That earned him Player of the Series. Still, when South Africa won the first Test in this India tour, he was left out. No one expected him to return. But he did. And when he did, he made sure it mattered.

The Innings That Defined Him

He walked in at 334 for 7, with South Africa’s momentum wavering. The crowd in Guwahati, many of them fans of Indian origin, watched quietly as Muthusamy faced 48 balls before finally scoring his first boundary. He didn’t rush. He didn’t try to impress. He just anchored. For 165 minutes, he absorbed pressure. "Solid in defense," one commentator noted. "Hardly put a foot wrong." The only moment of doubt came when a faint edge off a delivery from Ravindra Jadeja prompted a review. The sound of the bat meeting glove echoed through the stadium. The third umpire confirmed it. No run. But Muthusamy didn’t flinch. He kept his head down. By the time he reached 50, the stands had grown silent—not out of hostility, but respect.

Then, suddenly, the dam broke. The runs came thick and fast. A cover drive. A pull over midwicket. A late cut that raced to the boundary. He was one hit away from 100 when he smashed a full toss through the covers. The crowd rose. The scoreboard flashed: 100. He raised his bat. Tears welled in his eyes.

He was dismissed for 109 with the score at 431 for 8, but the damage was done. His 97-run stand with Marco Jansen turned the tide. "That partnership," said South Africa captain Dean Elgar afterward, "was the difference between a decent total and a match-winning one."

Roots in Tamil Nadu

What made this century even more powerful was where it happened—and who he is. Muthusamy can trace his ancestry directly to Tamil Nadu in southern India. His grandparents migrated to South Africa in the 1950s. He grew up listening to Tamil lullabies, eating dosas on Sundays, and watching Indian cricket legends on grainy TV screens.

"Playing in India isn’t just a challenge," he said. "It’s home. I’ve always felt a pull here, even when no one else saw me." That emotional connection didn’t go unnoticed. Fans in the stands held up signs in Tamil: "நீ எங்கள் ஹீரோ"—"You are our hero."

The Spinning All-Rounder’s Burden

Being a spin-bowling all-rounder in South Africa is a tough gig. The pitches don’t turn. The selectors often favor pure batsmen or pure bowlers. Muthusamy has spent years proving he belongs in both departments. "It’s challenging," he said. "The conditions here differ greatly from the subcontinent. But when we get the chance to play here? It’s the kind of challenge we live for." His 11 wickets against Pakistan last year weren’t flukes. He’s one of the few modern South Africans who can genuinely bowl 15 overs of accurate off-spin and then bat in the top eight. That rarity made his century even more valuable.

What’s Next?

With South Africa leading the series 1-0 and Muthusamy now a proven match-winner, expectations are rising. He’s likely to keep his place for the final Test in Delhi. If he scores another fifty, he could become the first South African of Indian descent to score two Test centuries.

His story isn’t just about runs and wickets. It’s about resilience. About identity. About returning to the place where you were once dismissed—and making them remember you for something far greater.