IND vs SL 1st Test | ‘I stick to basics and always keep my hands closer’: Devdutt Padikkal

India’s Devdutt Padikkal during his 44 vs SL on Tuesday. Pic/PTI

Devdutt Padikkal on Tuesday asserted that Test cricket remains his "ultimate goal", and subtle technical adjustments to his batting has helped him make an instant impact in the ongoing first Test against Sri Lanka here.

In his first Test in nearly two years, Padikkal made 167 and 44, playing a massive hand in India's surge towards a victory. "I have always been aware that Test cricket is my ultimate goal. So, I have tried to model my game in such a way that I don't go too far away from my basics. I try to make sure that I am always equipped to switch to red-ball cricket because that is my first priority," Padikkal said in the post-day press conference.

However, the Karnataka skipper acknowledged that shifting between white and red ball formats has not been an easy job, and has required careful adjustments to his game. "In white ball cricket, I have a particular set-up that helps me play a lot more shots and, you know, freeze my arms up a little bit. But in red ball, it's important that I tighten that side of my game… just my hands being a little closer in red ball. But at the same time, mentally, it's important that I make that shift," the southpaw added.

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