Il Nuovo Postiglione - South African centurion Muthusamy celebrates 'awesome' Test journey

Muthusamy made 109 in South Africa's imposing 489 all out on day two of the second Test in Guwahati to frustrate the Indian attack with his grit and patience.

A left-hander who bowls spin, Muthusamy missed the team's opening win but returned for the final Test -- his eighth -- to make an instant impact batting at number seven.

The 31-year-old put on a key eighth-wicket stand of 97 with Marco Jansen and reached his hundred in 192 balls for life to come full circle in a country where he can trace his roots back several generations to the south Indian state of Tamil Nadu.

"My journey's been unique," Muthusamy told reporters. "(I) Got a taste of international cricket in 2019 in India, debuted here, went back into the wilderness a little bit.

"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."

"I've got a really cool group around me, so I'm very grateful for their support and their love. Yeah, it's an awesome journey," he said.

Muthusamy fared well enough with the bat in his debut at Visakhapatnam in 2019, unbeaten in both innings for 33 and 49. But he made just nine and seven in the following Test in Pune.

With the ball he claimed just two wickets in two heavy defeats and slipped out of favour.

He played a Test each in 2023 and 2024 but returned with force this year and claimed 11 wickets and scored 106 runs to be named player of the series in South Africa's recent 1-1 draw in Pakistan.

"It's tough being a spinning all-rounder in South Africa," Muthusamy said.

"Conditions are a lot different (in South Africa) to the sub-continent. But when we get an opportunity to come to the sub-continent... it's an awesome challenge that we look forward to.

"I see myself as an all-rounder so I try to contribute where I can towards the team's cause. I just try to add as much value as I can."

Temba Bavuma's South Africa are chasing their first Test series win in India since Hansie Cronje's team triumphed in 2000.

The pitch in Guwahati still looks to be full of runs and despite a good first innings total the South African spin attack of Simon Harmer, Keshav Maharaj and Muthusamy face a tough challenge dislodging the Indian batters.

"I think Simon's got over a thousand first class wickets, Kesh has over 200 international wickets," said Muthusamy.

"So there's a vast amount of experience and I look forward to seeing how things unfold."

Q.Bernardi--INP