Dropped on 0 and 1, Devdutt Padikkal makes Sri Lanka pay with another century in Colombo

Padikkal anchors India after early setbacks

Devdutt Padikkal scored his second century of the series, making 117 as India finished the opening day of the second and final Test against Sri Lanka at 300 for five in Colombo. Multiple outlets, including Daily Excelsior, Deccan Chronicle, The Economic Times, India Today, Lokmat Times, PerthNow and The Times of India, reported that Padikkal's innings formed the backbone of the total after the visitors lost early wickets and suffered an injury scare to Rishabh Pant.

India captain Shubman Gill won the toss and elected to bat at the Sinhalese Sports Club. Openers KL Rahul and Yashasvi Jaiswal put on 37 before Rahul was dismissed for 18, caught behind off Lahiru Kumara after edging a wider delivery, according to accounts carried by The Economic Times, PerthNow, Lokmat Times and The Times of India. Jaiswal made 45 before Asitha Fernando bowled him with an inswinger. Several sources, among them The Economic Times, India Today, Lokmat Times and The Times of India, described a brief confrontation that followed, with the pair coming face to face and Jaiswal's helmet brushing Fernando before Sri Lanka captain Dhananjaya de Silva intervened to calm the situation.

Stabilising stands and Sri Lanka's missed chances

With India at 66 for two, Padikkal joined Gill. The pair added 120 runs for the third wicket in a partnership lasting more than 35 overs, as reported across Daily Excelsior, Deccan Chronicle, India Today, Lokmat Times, PerthNow and The Times of India. Gill reached 50, his ninth Test half-century and first in Sri Lanka, before edging Fernando to Niroshan Dickwella. The wicketkeeper initially spilled the chance but completed the catch on the second attempt, according to The Economic Times, Malayala Manorama and PerthNow.

Padikkal had been given early lives. He was dropped on 0 and 1, with Sonal Dinusha and de Silva the fielders involved in the misses, details confirmed by Daily Excelsior, Deccan Chronicle, The Economic Times, India Today, Livemint, Lokmat Times, PerthNow and The Times of India. Surviving those chances, Padikkal settled into a composed knock of 117 off 193 balls that featured 12 boundaries and lasted nearly five hours. He reached his fifty off 90 balls and brought up the century by driving Prabath Jayasuriya for four before taking a single. The century was his second in consecutive Tests after 167 in Galle, and several reports noted it came on a surface offering more bounce and movement than the first-Test pitch.

Rishabh Pant, who came in after Gill's dismissal, retired hurt on 3 after being struck on the forearm by a short ball from Kumara while attempting a pull. Team management later indicated he was fit to bat again. Padikkal and Ravindra Jadeja then added 74 runs. Padikkal was eventually bowled by Keshara Nuwantha, who beat a tentative push. Jadeja made 43 before Fernando dismissed him in the final over with an inswinger that the left-hander misjudged and attempted to leave. Dhruv Jurel (7) and debutant Saransh Jain (4) were unbeaten at stumps.

Fernando finished with three wickets for 46, while Kumara and Nuwantha took one each. India lead the series 1-0 after winning the first Test in Galle by 165 runs, a margin confirmed by PerthNow, The Times of India and India Today. Jain replaced Kuldeep Yadav, who was left out, and became the first Indian off-spinner to debut since Washington Sundar in 2021, according to The Times of India and PerthNow.

Context around Padikkal's form and selection

Padikkal was playing his fourth Test after earlier opportunities had been limited. Livemint reported that he had waited after his 2024 debut and secured his place for this series following Sai Sudharsan's toe injury, having also scored an unbeaten century in a warm-up match. His series aggregate stood at 328 runs in three innings at an average of 109.33. NewsBytes noted that he became the first visiting player to score two centuries at No. 3 in Sri Lanka in a two-match series, placing him alongside earlier efforts by Cheteshwar Pujara and Vinod Kambli in historical context.

The Times of India carried praise from former India all-rounder Irfan Pathan, who wrote on X that Padikkal was giving a much-needed boost to the number-three spot and was pleasing to the eye when he bats.

Perspectives on India's position

Former India cricketers Ajay Jadeja and Sanjay Manjrekar offered a more measured assessment of the day, as reported by India Today. Speaking on broadcast, Jadeja said every batsman who came in got a start but only Padikkal raised his bat after a hundred, adding that Sri Lanka probably walked off happier and that coach Gautam Gambhir would not be entirely pleased given the standards the team has set. Manjrekar suggested India should target around 500 given the pitch and batting depth.

Other coverage, including from Lokmat Times and PerthNow, framed the total as leaving India slightly ahead or in control heading into day two, while noting Sri Lanka's late fightback with the second new ball kept them in contention. The best batting conditions at the SSC are often expected on the second day, according to India Today, so both sides will look to press their advantage when play resumes.