Devdutt Padikkal produced another memorable performance with the bat as India enjoyed a strong opening day in the second Test against Sri Lanka in Colombo on Sunday, August 23. Padikkal scored a brilliant century to put India in a commanding position, while wicketkeeper-batter Rishabh Pant suffered an injury during the final session.
India won the toss and elected to bat first at the start of the second Test. By the close of play, the Indian team had reached 300 for 5 after 85 overs, giving the visitors plenty of positives to take into the second day.
Dhruv Jurel was unbeaten on 7, while Saransh Jain remained not out on 4 at stumps. Although India lost wickets towards the latter part of the day, the overall advantage remained firmly with the visitors after a productive day’s batting.
Devdutt Padikkal Smashes a Historic Century
The biggest highlight of the day was undoubtedly Devdutt Padikkal’s century. Coming in at No. 3, the left-handed batter showed tremendous composure and patience against the Sri Lankan bowling attack.
Padikkal faced 193 deliveries and scored 117 runs, including 12 boundaries. His innings provided India with the stability they needed and helped the team build a substantial first-innings total.
The century was particularly significant because it came after another outstanding performance from Padikkal in the first Test. He had scored an impressive 167 runs in the opening match of the series.
With another three-figure score in the second Test, Padikkal achieved a notable milestone in Indian Test cricket. He became the first Indian batter in nearly seven years to score two consecutive Test centuries while batting at No. 3.
The previous Indian batter to achieve this feat was Cheteshwar Pujara, who recorded consecutive Test centuries overseas during the 2018-19 period. Padikkal’s achievement therefore places him in an impressive list of Indian batters who have excelled at the crucial No. 3 position.
Rishabh Pant Retires Hurt After Injury
India also faced a concern during the final session when Rishabh Pant suffered an injury. The wicketkeeper-batter was forced to leave the field after scoring only 3 runs and was listed as retired hurt.
Pant’s injury came at an unfortunate time for India, particularly with the team looking to finish the opening day strongly. His availability for the remainder of the Test will be closely watched as the match progresses.
Despite the setback, India maintained control for most of the day. The team’s top-order batters laid the foundation, while Padikkal’s century provided the standout contribution.
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India Finish Day One in a Strong Position
India’s batting effort was productive throughout much of the opening day. The visitors managed to cross the 300-run mark before the close of play, although they lost five wickets in the process.
The late wickets prevented India from ending the day in an even stronger position, but the overall picture remained positive. With three days of the Test still to come after the opening day, India will look to convert their strong start into a substantial first-innings total.
For Devdutt Padikkal, however, the day will remain particularly special. After his 167 in the first Test, another century in Colombo has further strengthened his reputation as a promising Test batter. His consistency at No. 3 has also given India an important option in the batting order.
With Padikkal once again delivering on the big stage, India will hope their lower order can add valuable runs on the second day and put further pressure on Sri Lanka.
