Padikkal Centurion Performance Anchors India on Opening Day in Galle
GALLE, Sri Lanka — Devdutt Padikkal continued his sensational form in the ongoing Test series, anchoring India’s batting effort with a resilient century on the opening day of the second Test against Sri Lanka. Despite a shaky start marred by missed chances from the hosts, Padikkal’s innings ensured India reached a competitive 300-5 by the close of play.
Padikkal, who was drafted into the squad as a late injury replacement, has arguably been the find of the series. Following a dominant performance in the first Test—where his scores of 167 and 44 earned him the Man of the Match award in India’s 165-run victory—the young batter proved his worth once again in Galle.
The day, however, began with a stroke of luck for the Indian number three. Padikkal was offered a lifeline before he had even troubled the scorers, with Sonal Dinusha dropping a sharp chance at backward point. His fortune held when captain Dhananjaya de Silva spilled a second opportunity at slip when Padikkal was on just two runs.
Capitalizing on those reprieves, Padikkal forged a crucial 120-run partnership for the third wicket with captain Shubman Gill. The display has solidified Padikkal’s case as the long-term solution for the number three spot, a position India has struggled to fill since Gill moved down to number four upon taking the captaincy.
While Padikkal eventually fell to off-spinner Keshara Nuwantha, his contribution kept India in the driver’s seat.
Sri Lanka’s Bowling Resurgence
Sri Lanka’s pace attack, led by the clinical Asitha Fernando, ensured the visitors did not have it all their own way. Fernando finished the day with figures of 3-46, providing consistent breakthroughs throughout the session.
Fernando accounted for opener Yashasvi Jaiswal, who looked set for a big score before departing for 43—a dismissal that was followed by a brief, heated exchange between the two players. The seamer later removed captain Gill, who edged a delivery moving away from him, before returning with the second new ball to clean bowl all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja.
"Really happy with the way our seamers went about things today," said Sri Lanka’s fast bowling coach Ryan van Niekerk. "They created opportunities and troubled the batters."
Injury Concerns and Stalemate
The day was not without physical setbacks for the visitors. Wicketkeeper Rishabh Pant was forced to retire hurt after being struck on his left forearm while attempting a pull shot against Lahiru Kumara. At stumps, debutant Saransh Jain (4) and Dhruv Jurel (7) were at the crease, tasked with building on India’s total when play resumes.
India’s batting coach, Sitanshu Kotak, acknowledged that while the team was generally satisfied with their position, they had missed a chance to capitalize further. "A couple of guys had got starts but couldn’t cash in, but all in all, we are happy with where we are," Kotak told reporters.
The day saw 85 of the scheduled 90 overs completed. Sri Lanka made notable changes to their lineup, handing a Test debut to Kamil Mishara, while Pasindu Sooriyabandara—who impressed as a concussion substitute in the first match—was named in the starting eleven for the first time.
As the series progresses, the tactical battle between India’s technical depth and Sri Lanka’s pace battery remains the central theme of this Padikkal hundred-dominated encounter.
© 2026 AFP
