Devdutt Padikkal has long maintained that his game is naturally suited for red-ball cricket. On Saturday in Galle, the 26-year-old left-hander validated that belief by smashing his maiden Test century in just 134 balls on Day 1 of the first Test against Sri Lanka. Opportunities at the top level have been hard to come by for the Karnataka batter, but when an injury to B Sai Sudharsan opened a doorway, Padikkal seized the moment to deliver a masterclass in subcontinental batting.
Since Cheteshwar Pujara was dropped in June 2023, India’s No. 3 spot had turned into a revolving door. Eleven different batters were trialed over a three-year span, yet none managed to record a century from that position—until now. Stepping out to the middle in the opening hour following the early loss of Yashasvi Jaiswal, Padikkal wasted little time asserting control. He brought up his first six within his first six balls, lofting left-arm spinner Prabath Jayasuriya straight over the boundary, and set the tone for an innings defined by decisive footwork and composed strokeplay.
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Padikkal’s approach contrasted sharply with his partner KL Rahul, who anchored firmly at the other end. Combining aggressive back-foot boundary hitting against debutant Keshara Nuwantha with authoritative forward strides to defend, Padikkal kept the Sri Lankan spin attack from settling into a rhythm. He constantly rotated the strike, converted tight singles into twos, and ensured the boundaries flowed consistently. Even as the dot balls mounted during a tight post-lunch spell, his temperament remained unshakeable. Upon reaching his half-century, he shifted gears, exploiting the depth of his crease to punish any slight error in length and whipping delivery after delivery through mid-wicket.
While India had previously invested heavily in Sudharsan, Padikkal’s performance underlined why he has been a consistent powerhouse on the domestic circuit, where he holds a first-class average of 43.18. Beyond just scoring runs, his ability to read spin early and commit fully to his chosen lengths sets him apart as a natural fit for India’s top order. By taking off for a sharp single on his 134th delivery to reach three figures, Padikkal brought immense relief to the Indian dressing room and provided a long-awaited answer to the country’s most persistent Test batting riddle.
