20 August,2026 12:34 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondent
KL Rahul, Devdutt Padikkal (Pic: File Pic)
Team India emerged victorious by 165 runs at the Galle International Cricket Stadium near Galle Fort in the first Test match against Sri Lanka, but there was one performance that stood out.
In Team India's first innings, Devdutt Padikkal delivered a knock of 167 runs off 230 deliveries, including 15 boundaries and a maximum.
Speaking about his co-batter's knock, veteran batsman KL Rahul heaped praise on his contribution.
"I think that innings was the defining part of this Test match. The way he batted, the tempo that he batted with, and to go on and get a big hundred in the first innings really set up the game for us," he said, according to Cricinfo.
The right-handed batsman added that the conditions were physically challenging, but the way Padikkal built partnerships with different batsmen was pleasing.
"The conditions were really hot and it was challenging physically as well, so for him to get through that, and firstly to get his first [Test] hundred is a special moment, but to go on from there and get a big hundred and stitch partnerships with different players and get a big first-innings total really set up this Test match, so that was really pleasing," added Rahul.
Later in the visitors' second innings, Padikkal scored 44 runs in 75 balls. His knock included six boundaries.
The 26-year-old cricketer was also named Player of the Match for his stunning performances. Along with Padikkal, Rahul Dhruv Jurel, Rishabh Pant, Manav Suthar, and Ravindra Jadeja were also star performers for Team India in the match.
Following the victory, the Shubman Gill-led men have taken a 1-0 lead in the two-match Test series against Sri Lanka.
The second Test match is scheduled to be played from August 23 at the Sinhalese Sports Club Cricket Ground in Colombo.
India: Shubman Gill (Captain), KL Rahul (Vice-Captain), Yashasvi Jaiswal, Rishabh Pant (WK), Dhruv Jurel (WK), Ravindra Jadeja, Kuldeep Yadav, Manav Suthar, Mohammed Siraj, Prasidh Krishna, Gurnoor Brar, Devdutt Padikkal, Saransh Jain, Auqib Nabi, Sarfaraz Khan.
Sri Lanka: Dinesh Chandimal (WK), Dhananjaya de Silva (C), Niroshan Dickwella (WK), Vishwa Fernando, Prabath Jayasuriya, Ramesh Mendis, Lahiru Udara, Asitha Fernando, Lahiru Kumara, Kamindu Mendis, Milan Rathnayake, Nishan Madushka, Pasindu Sooriyabandara, Sonal Dinusha, Dilshan Madushanka, Keshara Nuwantha.
(With ANI Inputs)
