16 August,2026 08:54 AM IST | Galle | R Kaushik
An ecstatic Devdutt Padikkal celebrates after scoring his hundred against SL in Galle on Saturday. Pic/BCCI
[popcorn number="150" desc="No. of runs put on by KL Rahul and Padikkal for the second wicket on Day One" class="Default"]
[popcorn number="Two" desc="Devdutt Padikkal becomes only the second Indian left-handed batter in the 21st century to score a Test century at No. 3, after Sourav Ganguly" class="Default"]
Since Cheteshwar Pujara became superfluous to the Test scheme of things, India have embarked on a furious and frustrating search for a reliable, long-term No. 3. Shubman Gill seemed to be settling into that role after asking for, and getting, that position on the tour of the West Indies in June 2023. But once he was elevated as Test captain last June and moved down to No. 4, India's hunt has been futile.
Among others, Sai Sudharsan, Karun Nair, and Washington Sundar occupied that slot, with no more than modest success. On Saturday here, a tall left-hander playing his first Test in 21 months finally answered the call with a maiden century that thrust India into the ascendancy.
Devdutt Padikkal would almost certainly have warmed the bench for the first Test against Sri Lanka if Sudharsan hadn't been ruled out with a stress reaction in his big toe. Thrown an unexpected lifeline, the rangy 26-year-old grabbed his opportunity with gratitude and grace, breezing to an unbeaten 131 as India finished Day One of their 600th Test on an impressive 288-2.
Padikkal's stylish composition, dotted by sparkling stroke-production, ended a long barren run; the last Test hundred by an India No. 3 came in September 2024, 35 innings previously, when Gill smashed an unbeaten 119 against Bangladesh in Chennai. As Gill watched from the best seat in the house, Padikkal surged to three figures in just 134 deliveries, indicative of his authority at the crease and his complete mastery of spinners Prabath Jayasuriya and debutant Keshara Nuwantha, expected to be the biggest threats.
India made the most of Gill winning a crucial toss with a consistently strong batting display. Padikkal was the fulcrum around which the day revolved; walking in to join KL Rahul after a mix-up led to Yashasvi Jaiswal being run out, he announced his intentions with a pulled four off his first ball from Nuwantha, determined to build on his fluent 142 not out against an SLC XI in Colombo last week.
Rahul kept his younger colleague excellent company as the two Karnataka boys put on 150 for the second wicket. They looked good for more when Rahul hobbled off the field with cramps all over his body soon after tea. Gill fell cheaply, but just before close, Rishabh Pant fired a few menacing shots across the bow alongside Padikkal, purring along majestically.
Brief scores
India 288-2 (D Padikkal 131', KL Rahul 77, Y Jaiswal 32; P Jayasuriya 1-77) vs Sri Lanka
