Devdutt Padikkal scored a magnificent 117 while skipper Shubman Gill hit a composed fifty as India ended Day 1 of the second Test against Sri Lanka at 300/5. The duo stitched a crucial 120-run stand to help India recover from early setbacks.
Devdutt Padikkal’s magnificent century and a composed half-century from skipper Shubman Gill helped India overcome early setbacks and take control of the opening day of the second Test against Sri Lanka at the Colombo SSC Ground on Sunday. After opting to bat first, India were reduced to 66/2 in the morning session, but Padikkal and Gill stitched together a crucial 120-run partnership to steady the innings. Padikkal went on to score 117 off 193 balls, while Gill contributed with a fifty before India finished the day at 300/5 after 85 overs.
Padikkal’s century dominates final session
After resuming the post-Tea session at 187/3, India began cautiously and reached 201/3 at the end of 56 overs, with Devdutt Padikkal and wicketkeeper-batter Rishabh Pant at the crease. However, India suffered a setback in the 58th over when Pant was hit on his wrist by Lahiru Kumara’s first delivery. The wicketkeeper-batter was seen in discomfort and was forced to retire hurt, with Ravindra Jadeja coming out to bat in his place. After the end of 62 overs, the visitors reached 222/3.
On the final ball of the 70th over, Padikkal brought up his second Test century, reaching the milestone in 168 deliveries. It was also his second hundred of the ongoing series. Padikkal was given two early reprieves after being dropped on 0 and 1, but he capitalised on the chances and looked in excellent touch thereafter. His century helped India strengthen their position, taking the score to 259/3. The last instance of an India No. 3 registering hundreds in back-to-back away Tests had come during the BGT 2018/19 – Cheteshwar Pujara – 106 & 0 at MCG, followed by 193 at SCG.
The visitors reached 277/3 after the conclusion of 75 overs. On the second delivery of the 77th over, Keshara Nuwantha provided Sri Lanka with a crucial breakthrough by dismissing Devdutt Padikkal. The left-handed batter walked back after a brilliant innings of 117 runs off 193 balls, including 12 boundaries. At the end of the 80th over, India had moved to 291/4.
On the first delivery of the 85th over, Asitha Fernando dismissed Jadeja after clean bowling him for 43 runs off 83 balls, including four boundaries. However, India quickly reached the 300-run mark in the same over, with debutant Saransh Jain, who came in after Jadeja’s departure, hitting a boundary off the third ball. The visitors ensured there were no further setbacks as they ended Day 1’s play at 300/5 after 85 overs.
The score marked one of their stronger opening-day totals in recent away Tests in Sri Lanka. In their last six Tests in Sri Lanka where at least 50 overs were bowled on the opening day, India had posted 319/6 in Colombo PSS in 2015 (won), 399/3 in Galle in 2017 (won), 344/3 in Colombo SSC in 2017 (won), 329/6 in Pallekele in 2017 (won), 288/2 in Galle in 2026 (won), and 300/5 in Colombo SSC in 2026.
Padikkal-Gill partnership rebuilds India’s innings
Earlier in the day, Padikkal and skipper Gill struck half-centuries to put India in a commanding position before Sri Lanka pacer Asitha Fernando dismissed Gill late in the second session on Day 1 of the second Test. India reached 187/3 in 52 overs at Tea, with Padikkal unbeaten on 63 and Rishabh Pant yet to open his account. India, with the help of Padikkal and Gill, added 99 runs to their score in the second session of Day 1.
Resuming the post-lunch session at 88/2, India dominated proceedings as Padikkal and Gill put together a crucial 120-run partnership for the third wicket. The pair negotiated Sri Lanka’s spin attack confidently, with Padikkal bringing up his half-century off 90 balls. Gill also looked assured at the crease, hitting six boundaries during his 108-ball stay and completing his fifty. The duo’s partnership helped India recover strongly after Sri Lanka had picked up two wickets during the morning session.
However, Sri Lanka found a breakthrough just before Tea when skipper Dhananjaya de Silva brought Asitha Fernando back into the attack. The pacer made an immediate impact, breaching Gill’s defence to dismiss him for 50 in the 52nd over. Padikkal remained unbeaten on 63 at Tea and will look to convert his start into another century after his heroics in the first Test.
Lanka strike after India’s quick start
Earlier, opting to bat first, Team India was off to a solid start, with Yashasvi Jaiswal collecting three fours against Asitha Fernando and Lahiru Kumara in the first two overs, including two successive fours against Kumara in the second over. KL Rahul took 11 balls to open his account, scoring his first runs with an elegant cover drive against Asitha in the fifth over.
After the scoreboard stayed stagnant for a short spell, Jaiswal and KL hit a four and a six against Prabath Jayasuriya in the 10th over. However, just when KL seemed to be picking up his strike rate, he nicked one straight to Niroshan Dickwella behind the stumps, becoming Kumara’s first wicket. KL was gone for 33 off 18, with two fours and a six. India was 37/1.
A flick towards deep midwicket by Jaiswal against Keshara Nuwantha brought India’s 50-run mark in 15.1 overs. The 17th over was an eventful one, with Jaiswal punishing Asitha with three fours in the space of four balls, but the bowler got the last laugh, as the left-hander’s stumps were rattled for a 53-ball 45, with nine fours. India was 66/2 in 17 overs.
Skipper Shubman Gill and Devdutt Padikkal guided India through the remainder of the first session without any further loss of wickets.
Toss Update
India won the toss and elected to bat first, with Madhya Pradesh all-rounder Saransh Jain making his Test debut and spinner Kuldeep Yadav missing the match due to a viral illness. (ANI)
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