Photo Credit: SA20 League
Senuran Muthusamy is the epitome of hard work coming to fruition.
There are arguably few cricketers in South Africa who do the extra yards more than the Pretoria Capitals all-rounder. And even when the world is turning against him, he works even harder.
But Muthusamy is reaping the rewards now. The 29-year-old was originally overlooked at the inaugural Betway SA20 auction despite boasting the best economy rate (4.30) in the previous season’s Cricket SA T20 Challenge.
However, the Capitals later went hunting for Muthusamy’s services when the “wildcard” pick was introduced. It proved to be a stroke of genius from the Centurion-based side as Muthusamy played an integral role in the Capitals’ march to the Betway SA20 final.
Muthusamy was particularly good in the tense win over MI Cape Town at Centurion when he held the innings together with a composed 25 to get his team over the line. He also produced a match-winning haul of 3/12 in the crushing eight-wicket victory over Durban’s Super Giants at his former homeground Kingsmead.
The all-rounder certainly enjoyed his time at the Capitals, which also helped him earn a recall to the Proteas Test side during the home summer for the series-opener against the West Indies at Centurion.
“I was really grateful to be drafted by the Capitals because I was a late wildcard pick. I was just chuffed to play a few games and put in a few contributions for the team,” Muthusamy said.
“It was a great blend of cricketers and people, and we were really able to bond in a short space of time. We found a way to play together.”
Muthusamy was full of praise for the Capitals management that included head coach Graham Ford, assistant coach Dale Benkenstein and batting coach Jacques Kallis.
“The coaching staff was really good in allowing guys to go out there and express themselves, and facilitating cohesion within the group,” he said.
Muthusamy is currently in Sri Lanka with the South Africa ‘A’ side where he struck another invaluable undefeated 45 in partnership with Tristan Stubbs in the third and final match to help the tourists clinch the unofficial ODI series.
Spending time in Sri Lanka on tour with Betway SA20 young guns like Stubbs (Sunrisers Eastern Cape), Jordan Hermann (Sunrisers Eastern Cape), Dewald Brevis (MI Cape Town) and Gerald Coetzee (Joburg Super Kings), Muthusamy has been able to see just how much the tournament has already helped the youngsters’ development.
“I think learning from overseas professionals, and seeing how they go about their business is massive. It definitely shortens the learning,” Muthusamy said.
“It cannot be undervalued. The SA20 is massive for the youngsters, but look at me, for everyone actually. It’s something to aspire to and aim to be a part of. It is definitely going to help grow our standard of cricket.”
Name of Author: SA20 League
SA20, officially known as the Betway SA20 for sponsorship reasons, is a Twenty20 franchise cricket tournament in South Africa organized by Cricket South Africa (CSA). First held in the 2023 season, the league features six city-based teams. Sunrisers Eastern Cape won the first two editions of the tournament.
