Now Reading: Devdutt Padikkal scores maiden Test century at No. 3 in Galle
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Devdutt Padikkal scores maiden Test century at No. 3 in Galle
Devdutt Padikkal smashed his maiden Test century, remaining unbeaten on 131 on the opening day of the first Test against Sri Lanka in Galle. Batting at No. 3, he struck 134 balls…
The Story in Brief
Devdutt Padikkal smashed his maiden Test century, remaining unbeaten on 131 on the opening day of the first Test against Sri Lanka in Galle. Batting at No. 3, he struck 134 balls to join Sourav Ganguly as only the second left-handed Indian to make a Test hundred from that position in the 21st century. Padikkal shared a 150-run stand with KL Rahul, who retired hurt on 77 due to cramps. India ended the rain-hit day at 288 for two, with Rishabh Pant also unbeaten. Yashasvi Jaiswal was run out for 32.
The Indian Opinion
After years of India shuffling batters at No. 3, Padikkal's composed hundred is a relief, not a miracle. The lazy narrative that one innings 'ends the search' ignores that Sai Sudharsan, injured before this Test, was Gambhir's long-term pick. Padikkal also walked in on a flat Galle pitch against a weakened Sri Lankan attack. The real test is not this hundred but how he handles moving balls in Australia or spin in Chennai. Will the team stick with him when Sudharsan returns?
Sources (4): sports.ndtv.com, sports.ndtv.com (2), nationalheraldindia.com, sports.ndtv.com (3)
This story was synthesised by AI from the 4 sources linked above.
Updated: this story now draws on 4 sources.
