Guwahati, India – In a heartwarming tale of heritage and triumph, South African cricketer Senuran Muthusamy, affectionately known as “Freedom Baby,” scored his maiden Test century against India in Guwahati on Saturday, November 22, 2025. The innings was made even more special as his mother, Vani Moodley, raced against time to witness the momentous occasion from her home in Durban.
Senuran, born in 1994, the year apartheid ended in South Africa, has always carried the weight of history and hope. His mother, Vani, was on a business trip in Ghana when her son approached the century mark on the second day of the match. “I watched him bat till stumps yesterday, and it was around 2.30 am India time when I was on the flight out from Ghana,” Vani told The Indian Express.
Upon landing in Durban, Vani’s nerves were frayed as she desperately sought updates on her son’s progress. Senuran, however, remained calm and focused, steadily guiding South Africa to a commanding position in the second Test of the two-match series. His innings of 109, crafted from 206 balls, helped the team reach 489 after a precarious start at 201 for five.
The tension mounted as Senuran approached the milestone. “I was frantically asking them to change the TV channel in the lounge,” Vani recounted. When he reached 98 with a slog-swept six and a delicate glance for four off Kuldeep Yadav, Vani was still en route home. But as Senuran finally punched a delivery from Mohammed Siraj to cover, reaching his first Test hundred, his mother was there to witness it on screen.
“I was racing through the roads crazily to get home. Luckily, I made it just in time for his century,” Vani exclaimed. Moments later, her WhatsApp profile picture was updated with an image of Senuran celebrating his century, accompanied by the note: “The first centurion at the Guwahati Stadium.”
For Vani, the moment was a culmination of years of dedication and sacrifice. Senuran’s journey began in Durban, where his family faced discrimination. His ancestors arrived in South Africa in the early 1900s as indentured laborers from Vellore, Tamil Nadu. Vani’s paternal grandfather even stowed away on a ship to Africa. Growing up during apartheid, Vani faced limited opportunities, working full-time to support her studies while also participating in the anti-apartheid struggle.
Vani’s grandfather instilled in her the importance of community, working even on Sundays to contribute to building a local school. Senuran’s paternal grandfather, Punnatambaran Muthuswamy, was also a cricketer but was unable to reach the highest levels due to racial barriers. “Things changed in my son’s era. He was born into a multicultural community and had his grandfather and father to plant the seeds of cricket in him,” Vani explained.
Senuran’s father, who passed away when Senuran was 11, played a crucial role in nurturing his cricketing talent. “From the time he could stand, he was fully kitted out and basically having throwdowns with his dad. That continued until his dad passed away. I had to equip myself with cricket knowledge to keep giving him those throwdowns,” Vani recalled.
Senuran made his First Class debut in 2013 and his Test debut in 2019 against India. This century in Guwahati marked a significant milestone in his career. Vani, who has visited her ancestral roots in India only twice, expressed her pride in her son’s achievement. Raising Senuran, she said, was relatively easy, unlike the struggles faced by her forefathers. “He was a competitive and intelligent student and I haven’t faced the troubles other mothers may do with their teenage kids,” she said.
Despite their strong ties to India, Vani emphasized that South Africa is their home. “This is the only country we know. If we go to India, we stand out, we don’t feel that sense of belonging. This is where we belong, this is where we grew up. To wear the national emblem of the Proteas is such a pride and joy,” Vani concluded.
