In a rain-affected second day of the first Test at Galle International Stadium on Sunday, Devdutt Padikkal delivered an impressive performance, scoring a career-best 167 runs. This contribution helped India reach a total of 460 runs for the loss of 9 wickets in 116 overs. The match showcased Padikkal’s left-handed batting prowess as he played a crucial role in building India’s innings against Sri Lanka.
Kuldeep Yadav (12 not out) and Prasidh Krishna (1 not out) were at the crease at stumps, leaving open the possibility of an overnight declaration to press for early breakthroughs in Sri Lanka’s batting order. Sri Lanka found some encouragement through debutant off‑spinner Keshara Nuwantha, who picked up three wickets, while left‑arm spinner Prabath Jayasuriya returned figures of 4-109 to stop India from running away with the game. Padikkal showed no signs of slowing down as he flicked pacer Asitha Fernando over mid-on for four to reach his first-ever score of 150 in Tests. It also made Padikkal only the third Indian batter after Rahul Dravid (2009) and Cheteshwar Pujara (2017) to score 150-plus at number three against Sri Lanka. Mohammed Siraj clobbered a 79-kph delivery from Nuwantha high over long-on for six, before he miscued a slower ball from Fernando to mid-off.
Rahul, who returned to bat after retiring hurt on 77 on Saturday due to right forearm cramps, added five runs before Nuwantha extracted sharp turn and bounce to have him caught at forward short leg for 82. India lost seven wickets in the shortened day but remain well placed in the game, with the pitch offering more assistance than anticipated to spinners. Closing his bat-face off Jayasuriya, Jurel offered a leading edge that Sri Lanka captain Dhananjaya de Silva grabbed through a magnificent one-handed diving catch at first slip.
