24 August,2026 10:05 AM IST | Colombo | PTI
Batting coach Sitanshu Kotak
India's batting coach Sitanshu Kotak on Sunday lauded Devdutt Padikkal (117) after the top-order batter made his second successive hundred of this series.
"He has made the most out of the opportunity. For me the intent he has shown, the temperament he has shown and the pace at which he batted as well matter a lot. He batted with a very good strike rate as well.
"So, the way he batted is really, really a good sign for us. He has been waiting for his turn for the last year and a half or maybe two years. I am so happy with the way he prepared, and made the most of that opportunity," he added.
However, Kotak said he would have been even more delighted had India not lost five wickets on the day.
Meanwhile, Kotak asserted that spinner Kuldeep Yadav was benched from the second Test due to viral fever, and there was no need for the management to "fake" an illness to leave out a player from the XI.
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