Team India batter Devdutt Padikkal has achieved a major overseas milestone that former batter Cheteshwar Pujara never managed during his Test career. Padikkal became only the third Indian batter to score 200 or more runs in an away Test while batting at No. 3, joining an elite group in the longer format.
The landmark came during the first Test against Sri Lanka at the Galle International Cricket Stadium on Tuesday, August 18. India reached 81/3 in the first session of Day 4, taking their overall lead to 259 runs. Earlier in the session, Yashasvi Jaiswal perished for a duck and KL Rahul fell for 35 to Prabath Jayasuriya.
Devdutt Padikkal Joins Rahul Dravid and Sanjay Manjrekar in Elite List
Devdutt Padikkal reached a rare milestone in the first Test against Sri Lanka at the Galle International Cricket Stadium. After scoring 167 in India's first innings, he added 35* in the second innings to take his match tally past 200 runs while batting at No. 3.
Padikkal became only the third Indian batter to score 200 or more runs in an away Test while batting at No. 3. Rahul Dravid achieved the feat five times, while Sanjay Manjrekar also features on the list.
The 25-year-old earned his opportunity after Sai Sudharsan was ruled out of the series and made the most of it immediately. He scored his maiden Test century in Galle and followed it with another useful contribution in the second innings, strengthening his case for a regular place in India's Test team.
Devdutt Padikkal Helps India Recover on Day 4
Sri Lanka made an early breakthrough on Day 4 when Asitha Fernando dismissed Yashasvi Jaiswal for a duck with the third ball of the morning. India then faced more pressure when KL Rahul was given out LBW, but Padikkal convinced his Karnataka teammate to review the decision.
Ball-tracking showed the delivery missing the stumps. Rahul and Padikkal then settled the innings with a 65-run partnership. However, Rahul's stay ended when he mistimed an attempted loft against Prabath Jayasuriya, with the leading edge carrying to long-off. He departed for 35, leaving India two wickets down.
Shubman Gill also fell after Sri Lanka successfully reviewed an LBW decision. The India captain missed a sweep against the spinner, and ball-tracking showed three reds. At the time of writing, India were at 95/3 in 25 overs with Padikkal (43) and Rishabh Pant (6) at the crease.
Devdutt Padikkal Announces His Return With Maiden Test Century
Devdutt Padikkal made an immediate impact on his return to India’s red-ball side in the first Test against Sri Lanka. With India at 47, the left-hander combined solid defence with controlled aggression to score his maiden Test century.
Padikkal continued after reaching three figures and brought up his 150 from 215 balls. He eventually fell for an impressive 167, having struck 15 fours and a six. The knock came in only his third Test and his first since the 2024-25 Border-Gavaskar Trophy in Australia.
Padikkal became only the fifth Indian to score 150 or more in an away Test while batting at first drop. He looked capable of pushing towards a double century before Prabath Jayasuriya dismissed him after he advanced down the pitch and was stumped.
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