Rishabh Pant’s bold call turns embarrassing as Senuran Muthusamy hits six straight after ‘usko marl’ remark
Team India skipper and wicketkeeper Rishabh Pant’s micro-stump instructions grabbed attention on the second day (Sunday, November 23) of the second Test against South Africa in Guwahati. Pant urged his bowler to let Senuran Muthusamy ‘go for it’ moments before the batter smashed the next delivery over long-on.
The wicketkeeper, who captained the team in the absence of Shubman Gill, was left frustrated as India struggled to take wickets. Muthusamy (109 runs) scored a century and Marco Jansen chipped in with 93 off just 91 balls. South Africa scored a total of 489 runs in 151.1 overs before India finally finished the innings.
Rishabh Pant’s instruction backfires as Senuran Muthusamy smashes sixes
Rishabh Pant constantly guided his bowlers and calmed his teammates whenever the game got tense. At one point, he even took control of the field placements himself and asked his bowlers to stay relaxed.
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A moment of levity occurred in the 124th over of South Africa’s first innings. With one ball remaining and Marco Jansen having already taken a point, Pant told Washington Sundar, “marne de usko”, a clear signal to tempt the batter into bowling a big shot.
Sundar followed the instructions, bowled a fuller delivery outside off and Senuran Muthusamy accepted the invitation. He came down low and bowled a clean sweep over long-off for a six that took South Africa’s total past 350 runs.
Rishabh Pants – Marne From Isko
(Let it hit)
Muthusamy: Thank you.😭pIc.twItter.com/NOuG9Of4II— . (@kadaipaneer_) November 23, 2025
Senuran Muthusamy dismissed by Mohammed Siraj after scoring 109 runs
Senuran Muthusamy scored 109 off 206 deliveries, including 10 boundaries and two sixes. He showed patience against the Indian bowlers in the morning session. The left-handed batter added an 88-run partnership with Kyle Verreynne for the seventh wicket.
Muthusamy and Jansen added a crucial 97-run stand, which significantly shifted the momentum in South Africa’s favor. South Africa were bowled out for 489, putting them in complete control of the match.
Muthusamy became only the third South African batter to score a Test century while at number seven or lower for India, after Quinton de Kock (2019) and Lance Klusener (1997).
His resistance finally ended shortly after the lunch break, when Mohammed Siraj dismissed him with the first ball of the session. Muthusamy overshot a pull that flew towards Yashasvi Jaiswal at fine leg.
Truly special moment in front of this packed house – Senuran Muthusamy
After the play on the second day, Senuran Muthusamy said it was a special moment to reach his century in front of a large crowd. He added that his main focus had been to help South Africa secure a strong first innings total by building partnerships.
“It was a truly special moment in front of this packed house. I’m just happy that I was able to contribute to the team and really score some runs in the first innings, which is always important. It was just about building partnerships and really trying to extend the innings and then score runs in between.” Muthusamy said, as quoted by Cricbuzz.
India looked exhausted after spending 151 overs on the field in two days. The openers came to bat with only a short period to survive before the stumps. Yashasvi Jaiswal (7) and KL Rahul (2) added 9 runs in 6.1 overs. India are still behind by 480 runs.
Also read: Travis Head stops Steve Smith and warns him as soon as he suggests Perth’s pitch was easy
