Devdutt Padikkal Creates History, Dismantles Dravid, Sachin’s Long-Standing Feats; Sets Massive World Records

The left-handed batter reached the three-figure mark on the first day of the second Test on Sunday (August 23) at the iconic Sinhalese Sports Club (SSC) in Colombo.

The 26-year-old reached the three-figure mark in just 168 balls to set up a strong foundation for the Shubman Gill-led side as they aim to wrap up a series win and complete a whitewash. He departed after making 117 runs. Earlier, Padikkal also scored a century in the series opener at Galle, which the visitors won by 165 runs.

The first test marked Padikkal’s return to the national team after nearly two years, and he made the most of the chance with a knock of 167 in the first innings and 44 runs in the second outing. He was awarded the Player of the Match (POTM) award.

Devdutt Padikkal Creates History

Padikkal now has the most runs by a visiting number three in Sri Lanka during a two-match Test series. The record was previously held by former New Zealand captain Stephen Fleming, who had 307 runs in the country during his team’s tour of the island nation in 2003, where they played two Test matches.

Most Runs By A Visiting Number 3 In Sri Lanka In A Series Of Two Matches

Overall across batting positions, only Joe Root (436 in 2201) and Fleming (374 in 2023) have scored more runs by among away batters in a series of two games in Sri Lanka.

Padikkal has also become the first player in history from an away team to score multiple centuries in Sri Lanka while batting at number three. Overall six players (from any batting position) managed multiple tons in a series in the island nation while playing for the visiting team in a series that had no more than two games.

Players To Score Multiple Tons In Two Match Series In Sri Lanka

Meanwhile, Padikkal is the third Indian after Cheteshwar Pujara and Vinod Kambli to score multiple tons in a Test series in Sri Lanka from number three in a series of any number of matches. Apart from the three Indians, Pakistan’s Azhar Ali is the only player to achieve the rare feat in history.

Devdutt Padikkal Leaves Behind Rahul Dravid, Sachin Tendulkar

Meanwhile, Padikkal has broken Rahul Dravid’s 27-year-old record and registered the most runs by an Indian batter in a two-match away Test series (or in a series away from home where an Indian batter did not play more than two matches). The most runs by an Indian batter in a series of no more than two games in Sri Lanka was previously held by Sachin Tendulkar, who kept the record since 1997.

Most Runs By an Indian Batter Away From Home In A Series Of Two Or Fewer Games (Or Indian player did not play more than two games)

Padikkal has become the seventh Indian player after Kambli, Azharuddin, Tendulkar, Virender Sehwag, Shikhar Dhawan and Cheteshwar Pujara to score multiple centuries in a series away from home against Sri Lanka.

His tally of 328 runs is the fifth-most by an Indian batter in a Test series against Sri Lanka in Sri Lanka, behind Sachin Tendulkar (390 in 2010), Dhawan (358 in 2017) and Sehwag (348 in 2010, 344 in 2008).