Debutant Senuran Muthusamy bowled just five overs on day one of the Proteas’ Test series opener against India in Visakhapatnam.

The hosts climbed to 202 without loss on a rain-affected day that allowed just 59.1 overs. Openers Rohit Sharma and Mayank Agarwal collected 115 and 84 not out, respectively.

Left-armer Muthusamy was introduced for two overs shortly before the lunch break and bowled another three prior to tea, after fellow spinners Keshav Maharaj and Dane Piedt failed to orchestrate an opening breakthrough on a tame pitch and in humid conditions.

‘You have really got to deal with the heat. There is more pressure on the spinners here to win the game and it is about being consistent. It is the other way around back home. We come into play only in the third or fourth innings,’ PTI quoted Muthusamy as saying.

All-rounder Muthusamy was named in the XI ahead of specialist batsmen Heinrich Klaasen and Zubayr Hamza – and fast bowlers Anrich Nortje and Lungi Ngidi. The talented left-hander has boosted the tourists’ batting resources and will likely arrive at the crease at seven or eight in the order, before or after fellow all-rounder Vernon Philander.

‘I have learned a lot with the bat as well, adjusting to the wickets in India where the bounce is a bit lower. You have got to deal with reverse swing a lot more. I am sure I can learn a lot more during my time here,’ he added.

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