Devdutt Padikkal scores maiden Test century in Galle

Devdutt Padikkal scored his maiden Test century, reaching 167 off 230 balls against Sri Lanka in Galle on August 16, 2026. The knock came in India's 600th Test match, coinciding with India's 80th Independence Day. Padikkal, playing only his third Test, was batting at the No. 3 spot. He had scored 65 and 25 in his first two Tests in 2024. Rediff.com reports he attributed his success to clear plans against spin and full commitment to every shot. "When you're playing spin, it's important that you have certain plans in your head," he told broadcasters after the second day's play.

Padikkal said he was hungry for big scores beyond the century mark. "The moment you get to a hundred, it's easy to relax," he said. "It's important that for me, the next 20-30 balls are the really important phase." He drew inspiration from Karnataka cricketers who scored big hundreds. Rediff.com also notes that he scored an unbeaten 142 in a tour match against Sri Lanka Cricket XI to secure his place in the playing eleven. The 24-year-old, born in Edappal, Kerala, shaped his career in Bengaluru. The Galle pitch, he said, is expected to quicken up on days three and four, which could help India's bowlers.