Muthusamy earns praise for maiden Test ton as SA seize control of Guwahati Test: 'Grit, composure, and complete control'

Senuran Muthusamy slammed his maiden Test century on Sunday as South Africa greatly boosted their hopes of collecting a first Test series win on Indian soil in 25 years, thanks to another rearguard from their lower order.

Muthusamy, brought into the South African XI in Guwahati in place of Corbin Bosch, brought up the milestone shortly before lunch on Day 2 with a brace off Mohammed Siraj, consuming 192 deliveries in what has been an assured knock so far.

LIVE | India vs South Africa, 2nd Test in Guwahati, Day 2

Resuming from his overnight score of 25, the spin-bowling all-rounder batted with caution for the most part of the morning session in the company of wicketkeeper-batter Kyle Verreyne.

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India had ended the opening day on a confident note after a flurry of wickets shortly before stumps, and were looking to polish off the lower order and bowl the Proteas out for less than 300.

Muthusamy and Verreyne, however, thwarted India’s bid to collect the remaining four wickets without conceding too many runs, batting through the entire morning session and steering the visitors to 316/6 at tea.

Muthusamy would continue to defy the Indians after Verreyne was dismissed by Ravindra Jadeja early in the second session, forging an attacking partnership with bowling all-rounder Marco Jansen, who brought up a milestone of his own in the form of his fourth Test half-century at nearly run-a-ball (53 deliveries) shortly after.

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‘Take a bow Senuran Muthusamy’

Here’s how former and current cricketers as well as fans reacted to Muthusamy’s outstanding knock in Guwahati on social media:

Hundred up! 💯

A maiden Test century for Senuran Muthusamy. 💥🇿🇦

A remarkable performance showcasing an innings of grit, composure, and complete control. 👏 pic.twitter.com/eR1aTK6Hze

— Proteas Men (@ProteasMenCSA) November 23, 2025

I wholeheartedly agree with Polly, Muthusamy can easily play in this side as a pure batter who can bowl. Can bat anyway from 5-7 imo, next series he should come into contention as a pure batting option as well.#CricketTwitter pic.twitter.com/Au9AVMasWv

— Lawrence Bailey 🇿🇦 (@LawrenceBailey0) November 23, 2025

SA have knocked off 5 sessions from this test now.

India will have to do the heavy lifting to push for a win, also keeping in mind that another session will surely be lost due to bad light.

Muthusamy’s defensive technique against spin has been the highlight so far. #indvsa pic.twitter.com/w3xMHGl2ow

— Ashwin 🇮🇳 (@ashwinravi99) November 23, 2025

Maiden Test hundred for Senuran Muthusamy! I love this for him! So well deserved! #INDvSA

— Kass Naidoo (@KassNaidoo) November 23, 2025

Take a bow Senuran Muthusamy!

Master class in how to craft a test match innings. Faultless 💯. What a knock!

Could show that to a few batsmen down under! @englandcricket pic.twitter.com/CVnIc9NxfK

— Sportbilly (@sportbillysays) November 23, 2025

If Muthusamy was an Indian, he wud be batting no 3 in next test

— Amit (@nottheamit) November 23, 2025

South African tail wags once again in the subcontinent

It was the lower order that had come to South Africa’s rescue in the second Test against Pakistan in Rawalpindi last month. Muthusamy had remained unbeaten on 89 as South Africa posted 404 in response to Pakistan’s first innings score of 333 after being reduced to 235/8 at one stage, with Kagiso Rabada chipping in with a 61-ball 71.

The Proteas would go on to bowl the hosts out for just 138 in their second innings and collect a series-leveling eight-wicket win – their first on Pakistani soil in 18 years.

Their eighth-wicket partnership was worth 94 off just 99 deliveries at lunch on Day 2, with South Africa in a commanding position at 428/7 in 137 overs, staring at the prospect of posting a 500-plus total.

South Africa had won a low-scoring thriller in the first Test at Kolkata’s Eden Gardens earlier this month, bowling India out for 93 after setting them a modest 124 to win. A draw will be sufficient for South Africa to collect their first Test series win on Indian soil since 2000.