Devdutt Padikkal assured his spot in India’s playing XI for the opening Test with a stylish century on Day Two of the warm-up match against Sri Lanka Cricket XI, while seasoned Rishabh Pant (2) and his understudy Dhruv Jurel (1) failed to make the most of favourable batting conditions.
India finished its first innings at 357-6 in 90 overs. Padikkal’s artistic unbeaten 142 and a gritty 63 (retired out) by veteran Ravindra Jadeja were the highlights, while Manav Suthar (41) also impressed with the bat on his maiden overseas international assignment.
Ravindra Jadeja celebrates after his half-century on Saturday
Padikkal hit 18 boundaries to show that he is ready to reclaim his rightful place now that first-choice No. 3 batter Sai Sudharsan has been ruled out of the series. With Yashasvi Jaiswal (0) falling off the second delivery, (40) and Padikkal added 96 for the second wicket.
While Rahul played himself in, the sinewy Padikkal was a treat to watch, opening with a couple of cover drives off fuller deliveries before unleashing some delectable cuts both in front of and behind point. Anything short from pacers or spinners was pulled with disdain. The famous ‘Nataraja Shot’ also came out of the closet against the pacers.
A pull shot off off-spinner Ramesh Mendis brought up his ton in just 121 balls before he was asked to retire. By then, he had added 72 with Jadeja, who again showed his value as a middle-order batter overseas.
The biggest disappointment of the day was certainly Pant, who once again played an indiscreet shot against off-spinner Mendis (2-77), trying to hit him over long-on against the turn. The leading edge flew to long-off. Towards the end, Padikkal once again came out to bat and added four more boundaries to his quota of 14.
18
No of fours smashed by Devdutt Padikkal against SLC XI on Saturday
65
Padikkal’s highest score, which came in his debut innings against England; the top-order batter has scored a total of 90 runs in two Tests
2024
The year Devdutt Padikkal played his last of two Tests
8
No of 50-plus scores by Jadeja in his last 13 Test innings