If you did a double-take seeing "Senuran Muthusamy, Test centurion" pop up on your screen, you're definitely not alone. Often labeled a bowling allrounder, he was picked for the Guwahati Test more for his spin than his batting. Yet, he went on to do what no one else in the series had managed: score a hundred, putting South Africa in an unbelievably dominant position.
Key Highlights
- ✓ Senuran Muthusamy silenced the critics with a stunning maiden Test hundred (109).
- ✓ Marco Jansen delivered a brutal all-round performance, smashing 93 runs and taking 6 wickets.
- ✓ South Africa’s lower order powered them to a massive first-innings total of 489.
- ✓ India crumbled in response, getting bowled out for just 201 despite a fighting stand from Sundar and Kuldeep.
- ✓ The Proteas chose not to enforce the follow-on, ending Day 3 with a commanding lead of over 300 runs.
The Unlikely Hero's Meditative Masterclass
Let's be honest, Senuran Muthusamy wasn't the guy anyone expected to be the star. For four years after his debut, he was in what he called "the wilderness" of domestic cricket, wondering if he'd ever play for South Africa again, especially in India. He’d played only sporadically, often as an extra spinner when conditions demanded it. But when his moment came in Guwahati, he grabbed it with both hands.
His innings was a masterclass in patience and technique, so much so that Ravi Shastri described it as "meditative." He played the ball late, defended with monk-like discipline, and initially only scored when he could guide the ball behind square. He faced down the likes of Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Siraj in fading light and navigated India's spinners on a pitch that was still good for batting but demanded respect.
Of course, there was a bit of luck involved, as there often is in cricket. On 48, he was given out lbw to Jadeja, but a review saved him. He was so disappointed that he just reviewed on a whim, only to find the tiniest of spikes on the replay, indicating a glove was involved. He capitalized on that moment and later credited his improved hand-eye coordination to work with Dr. Sheryll Calder's EyeGym, an organization that helps athletes sharpen their motor responses. From there, he didn't look back.
Enter the Hammer: Jansen Changes the Game
While Muthusamy was the anchor, the first part of the day was a slow, attritional grind. He and Kyle Verreynne built a crucial 88-run partnership, but the scoring rate was a sluggish 2.23 runs per over. They managed just 28 runs in the first hour of play. It was a battle of patience, and South Africa was winning it by simply occupying the crease and wearing the Indian bowlers down.
But when Verreynne fell, the entire mood of the game shifted. In walked Marco Jansen, and the attritional cricket turned into an absolute onslaught. Suddenly, the run rate skyrocketed to 5.49. Jansen, with his "fantastic levers" as Muthusamy put it, began clearing the ropes with ease. He was a clean, powerful striker of the ball, and he completely dismantled the Indian attack.
Muthusamy, watching from the other end, called it a "treat to watch" and a "sublime knock." Inspired by Jansen's aggression, Muthusamy even launched a six of his own. Together, they put on a blistering 97-run partnership for the eighth wicket, racing past 400 and leaving the Indian team stunned. It was heartbreaking to see Jansen fall for a magnificent 93, furious with himself for bottom-edging a Kuldeep Yadav delivery onto his stumps, but his knock had already done irreparable damage.
India's Collapse and Jansen's Revenge
After posting a mammoth 489, South Africa came out with a clear plan. And who was at the forefront of it? The man who just missed his century, Marco Jansen. If India thought his batting was destructive, his bowling was even more devastating. He tore through the Indian top order, eventually claiming a five-wicket haul—his fourth in Test cricket—and finishing with six wickets in total.
The Indian batting approach was heavily criticized. Legends like Anil Kumble and Dale Steyn slammed the shot selection, particularly captain Rishabh Pant’s aggressive charge at a fast bowler when his team was already behind the eight ball. Kumble called it a "pretty bad way to go about it," pointing out that the captain needed to lead from the front by applying himself, just as Temba Bavuma had done in the previous Test.
The only real resistance came from an unlikely source. Washington Sundar (48) and Kuldeep Yadav (19) put up a spirited 72-run stand for the eighth wicket. Their defiance, which lasted 141 balls, showed the top order what was possible with a bit of application. But it was too little, too late, as India was eventually bundled out for a paltry 201, handing the Proteas a massive 288-run first-innings lead.
Tightening the Noose on Day 3
With a lead of 288, South Africa had the option to enforce the follow-on. However, skipper Temba Bavuma and coach Shukri Conrad made the smart call to bat again. This gave their bowlers, especially the workhorse Jansen, some much-needed rest and put even more psychological pressure on India. It was a clear statement of intent: we're not just winning, we're going to grind you down.
Openers Ryan Rickleton and Aiden Markram came out and made a steady start, pushing the lead past 300 without any trouble. The Indian pacers, Bumrah and Siraj, looked desperate for wickets but couldn't find a breakthrough. As the light began to fade on Day 3, the umpires eventually called stumps, with South Africa comfortably placed at 26/0, leading by a colossal 313 runs with all ten wickets still in hand.
Conclusion
What a turnaround this has been. This Test match will be remembered for the stoic, unexpected brilliance of Senuran Muthusamy and the sheer, all-round force of nature that is Marco Jansen. One played with the patience of a monk, the other with the power of a hammer, and together they have put South Africa in a position from which it is almost impossible to lose. India finds itself completely on the back foot, facing a mountain to climb to even save the game, let alone win it.
