Padikkal's maiden Test ton propels India to dream start against Sri Lanka

Devdutt Padikkal scored a remarkable century, while K L Rahul struck a half-century as India took control on the opening day of the first Test against Sri Lanka at the Galle International Stadium on Saturday.

India made 288/2 in 73 overs in a day which saw the game interrupted by rain multiple times. The play was briefly stopped during the afternoon and final sessions due to rain.
This was the team's 600th Test match for India, and skipper Shubman Gill won the toss and elected to bat.

India made a strong start, with Yashasvi Jaiswal and Rahul laying the foundation for what followed. The pair added 47 runs for the opening wicket before Jaiswal was run out for 32 off 37 balls.

Rahul and Padikkal then settled in and frustrated the Sri Lankan bowlers. While Rahul adopted a more defensive approach, Padikkal took the attack to the bowlers whenever the opportunity presented itself.

The pair stitched together a 150-run partnership for the second wicket. Rahul brought up his 21st Test half-century in the process, but his innings was cut short when he retired hurt after scoring 77.

Skipper Gill then joined Padikkal at the crease, but his stay was brief. He was dismissed for 16, caught by Igalagamage off Prabath Jayasuriya. During their brief partnership, Padikkal brought up his maiden Test century in only his third appearance in Test since 2024.

He was then joined by Rishabh Pant, who tried to accelerate the scoring in the final overs. He remained in the crease for 27 off 36 balls when the umpires called it a day. Padikkal also remained unbeaten at 131.

Padikkal has been in exceptional form heading into the Test series. He scored 142 off 164 balls against Sri Lanka Cricket XI in the warm-up game, strengthening his case for a place in the playing XI. His selection was further aided by Sai Sudharsan's failure to recover from injury in time.

The century is another milestone in Padikkal's career, particularly for his Kerala connection.

Though Padikkal was born in Kerala, his family later moved to Hyderabad and then Bengaluru. He represents Karnataka in domestic cricket. His father hails from Nilambur, while his mother is from Edappal.