Devdutt Padikkal Shines Again for India in Colombo
Devdutt Padikkal is quickly finding his stride in Test cricket, especially in the crucial No. 3 batting position for India. Just six innings into his Test career, he has made a significant mark, scoring an impressive 167 runs in Galle and following it up with yet another century at the Sinhalese Sports Club in Colombo on Sunday.
During the second Test against Sri Lanka, Padikkal reached his century off 168 balls, hitting 10 beautiful boundaries along the way. His innings showcased not just skill, but also patience and a growing sense of confidence. After completing his hundred, he took off his helmet and received a well-deserved round of applause from the Indian team, marking an important moment in his budding career.
Padikkal entered the game when India was at a fragile 37 for 1 in the 11th over. He first formed a 29-run partnership with Yashasvi Jaiswal, before teaming up with captain Shubman Gill. The duo added 120 runs for the third wicket, which shifted the game’s momentum in India’s favor.
Padikkal reached his fifty in 90 balls and went to tea unbeaten at 63. After the break, his batting became more fluid with impressive drives, assertive pulls, and precise cuts, keeping the Sri Lankan bowlers under pressure without taking any reckless chances.
Though Gill fell for 50 just before tea, Padikkal stayed focused and continued to bat calmly. He handled the nervous nineties with ease, scoring a couple of crisp boundaries before pushing a single to secure his second Test century.
Sri Lanka will surely regret their initial chances, as Padikkal was dropped on his very first ball and again had a close call at just 1 run. Taking full advantage of these opportunities, he made them pay dearly.
Padikkal’s hundred came at a challenging phase for India, as Rishabh Pant had to leave the field after being struck on his wrist when he was on just 3 runs. Padikkal partnered with Ravindra Jadeja to stabilize the innings, contributing to an unbeaten half-century partnership that kept India’s momentum intact despite Pant’s injury.
His statistics in this series are impressive. He scored 167 and 44 in Galle and added another hundred in Colombo, totaling over 400 runs across just six innings, with an average exceeding 75. Notably, four out of his six Test innings have been 50 or more, including two centuries and two fifties.
Even more remarkable is Padikkal’s performance away from home. Over 300 of his Test runs have come on foreign soil, where he has scored both of his centuries and one of his fifties.
His recent century in Colombo also marks the 11th of his first-class career. In a total of 58 first-class matches and 96 innings, he has accumulated over 4,100 runs, averaging above 45, including 21 fifties.
As Padikkal continues to shine, cricket fans eagerly anticipate his next performances on the international stage.
