A career in small increments: the quiet rise of South African spinner Prenelan Subrayen
Prenelan Subrayen has built quite a journeyman career. After making his senior debut in 2010 as a 17-year-old in the CSA Provincial One Day Cup, the South African finally earned his Test and ODI caps in 2025, nearly 14 years later. The years in between tested his patience and shaped him both as a cricketer and a person.
During this period, he remained a consistent performer on the domestic circuit, picking up 256 First-Class wickets, along with 97 List A and 110 T20 scalps.
When he received his Test cap in Bulawayo and played his maiden ODI in Cairns, Australia, Subrayen, then 31, felt more relieved than anything else.
“It was a long process, but one of growth and maturity,” Subrayen told Sportstar. “Over time, it shaped me into who I am today. It was a proud feeling. I would’ve loved my parents to be there, but it was a relief to have finally made the step up after such a long time.”
The journey also brought frustrating stretches. He was reported for a suspect action multiple times, most notably in 2012, when he had to remodel his action. Even after that, he needed to clear tests periodically. After his ODI debut in Australia, where he took one for 46, he was reported again and missed the remaining two games. He passed the test once more and returned for the Lahore Test against Pakistan, finishing with match figures of two for 100 in 30.4 overs.
From there, he travelled to Bengaluru with the South Africa A side for two multi-day Tests against India A, a series featuring players such as Rishabh Pant, Sai Sudharsan, Devdutt Padikkal, Dhruv Jurel, and K.L. Rahul.
“The last few months have been quite busy for me. Coming to India, it’s always positive, especially to play cricket here. It’s a good gauge of how to operate in these conditions because they differ somewhat from South Africa, although not so much from Durban, where I come from. It’s been a good learning experience,” Subrayen said.
He claimed a five-wicket haul in the first match, returning five for 61 to help South Africa A take a 75-run lead in the first innings and bowl out the host for 234.
“The conditions and the opposition were a real test of skill and temperament because some of the best in the world were in that game. Bowling to them gave me a gauge of where I am and where I need to be to compete at that level,” he said.
He recalled his battle with Pant, who took him for 64 off 83 balls with six fours and three sixes across the two matches. Subrayen said Pant forced him to think out of the box. “It was about consistency and thinking on your feet. He’s such an expansive player. If you keep doing the same thing, he’ll get the better of you. I really enjoyed bowling to him, Dhruv, and the others because their skill level is so high. You almost have to match that intensity and in doing so, you grow as a player.”
After the visitor drew the series 1-1, Subrayen flew to Rajkot for three One-Day games with the South Africa A squad, while the senior Test side began its battle against India in Kolkata and wrapped up the match inside three days. Subrayen had high praise for fellow off-spinner Simon Harmer and Keshav Maharaj after the dramatic win.
“I think Simon Harmer is simply brilliant. He’s put himself in a small bracket of people who have taken over 1,000 (1,008) First Class wickets – a tremendous achievement on its own. And what he and Keshav did in the last Test… both of them are stalwarts of South African cricket.”
Subrayen also looks up to Keshav as a mentor. “The person I’ve grown closest to is Keshav Maharaj. He’s a very good friend off the field.”
Watching Harmer make a Test comeback at 36, the now 32-year-old Subrayen keeps his plan simple: land the ball in the right areas, keep doing the right things, and trust in God’s plan. “As a cricketer, you want to compete against the best in the world to grow. My only plan for the next few years is to maintain and keep playing against the best.”
Published on Nov 19, 2025
