Senuran Muthusamy has had an interesting — for want of a better word — Test career. His debut in India six years back was underwhelming as he finished with two for 190 from 45.3 overs in two Tests, after which he was superfluous to South Africa’s fortunes for three and a half years.

Years of struggle 

Since his comeback in February 2023, the left-arm-spinning all-rounder has figured in only six further Tests, four of them in the subcontinent. Despite taking 11 wickets in a losing cause against Pakistan in Lahore last month and backing it up with a match-turning unbeaten 89 in the next in Islamabad, he was benched for the first Test in Kolkata last week.