Devdutt Padikkal’s India comeback couldn’t have been any better. The Karnataka left-hander enjoyed the dividends of putting in the hard yards in red-ball cricket as he struck an unbeaten 131 – his first Test centtury – on Day I of the opening Test against Sri Lanka in Galle.
At Stumps on Saturday, Padikkal led from the front to help India to a commanding 288/2 after opting to bat first. His last Test was the Perth game against Australia in November 2024.
Giving Padikkal company in India’s 600th Test – and the 50th hosted in Galle – was Rishabh Pant (27 batting), who too looked solid during their third-wicket stand so far.
Credit also has to go to opener KL Rahul for his wonderful composure, till cramps forced him off the field after Tea. The presence of Rahul, Padikkal’s senior Karnataka teammate, also did well to help the left-hander feel a little more comfortable at the crease and go about the way he usually likes to.
Before Rahul retired hurt on 77, the pair added 150 for the second wicket to keep a stranglehold on the Sri Lankans. The lead cast of the partnership was Padikkal, who scored fluently around the wicket.
Padikkal, also battling dehydration on a humid day, had an engaging battle with debutant Keshara Nuwantha as the off-spinner was brought back to the attack immediately after the 26-year-old walked in to bat. Nuwantha did manage to induce an outside edge off Padikkal’s bat, which fortunately for the batter died in front of slip. But barring that odd occasion, Padikkal was in absolute command of what was a lacklustre bowling effort from the hosts.
Ahead of this series, Padikkal had a couple of 50-plus scores for India ‘A’ in Sri Lanka. Prior to that, he tallied 532 runs at an average of 66.50 in last season’s Ranji Trophy.
India’s batting coach Sitanshu Kotak was all praise for Padikkal’s back-foot game and overall shot selection. “In terms of preparation, the way Devdutt was preparing and I saw it in the NCA (BCCI COE) that he was working on his back-foot game. We try that when we expect some turn off the pitch.
“We also tried to work on his step-out and sweep besides the back foot game. So, a lot of credit goes to him for the way he has prepared himself over the last couple of years,” Kotak said after the day’s play.
Yashasvi Jaiswal and captain Shubman Gill’s dismissals – both against the run
of play – were the only things which would disappoint
India from from the Day I proceedings. But the foundation for a massive total has already been laid.