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Dhruv Jurel hailed Devdutt Padikkal for his delicate batting against Sri Lanka in Galle in the first of the two-match Test series between India and Sri Lanka. Padikkal, who replaced injured Sai Sudharshan at No.3, played an outstanding 167-run innings, which helped the visitors to dominate the opposing bowlers throughout Day 1 and most of Day 2.
As long as Devdutt Padikkal was on the deck, the home team spinners got very little space to do something significant to dent the Indian team's plans. After the stumps of Day 2, Dhruv Jurel, who claimed a half-century on Day 2 of the match, stated that whenever Devdutt Padikkal got any chances, he left his mark on a positive note.
Devdutt Padikkal scores whenever he gets a chance: Dhruv Jurel
The selection of Devdutt Padikkal for the number three batting position over Sarfaraz Khan was made because of his brilliant performance in domestic cricket and then in the Indian Premier League for the Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) this year. Before the Test match, the left-handed batter showed his class again, securing a hundred against the Sri Lanka Cricket XI in a warm-up match in Colombo.
"Devdutt scores whenever he gets a chance," Dhruv Jurel told the media at the press conference after the conclusion of the second day of the ongoing Test match.
Team India started their innings aggressively
As it was predicted before, the pitch in Galle is a spinner's paradise. But how India would bat was something predicted in advance. The opening pair of Yashasvi Jaiswal and KL Rahul provided India with a promising start. Jaiswal played some aggressive shots before being dismissed for 32 runs from 37 balls. Later on in the innings, when spinners were in action from both ends of the pitch, the Indian batters lowered their gears, but whenever they spotted opportunities, they swung their blades.
Jurel explained that they aimed to score runs at a good pace from the beginning of the innings, but maintaining composure.
"There was a plan to score runs briskly, but sensibly. We weren’t looking to go bonkers from ball one, but there was a plan," Jurel said.
Long spells ahead for the Indian bowling unit
After Devdutt Padikkal and KL Rahul (82), Dhruv Jurel was the third most successful batter for the Indian cricket team after Day 2. Jurel, who scored 51 off 68, mentioned that he is well aware of the conditions of the island nation as he played here before for the India A team.
"I know the conditions here, having played for India A here. I was under no pressure; it's a privilege to play for India," the keeper-batter stated.
At the end of Day 2, India was on 460 runs for 9 wickets, with Kuldeep Yadav and Prasidh Krishna in the middle. The Sri Lankan bowlers sustained two long days. Jurel predicted that the Indian bowlers also may have to keep their minds for long spells.
"We need to bowl long spells here and be consistent with lengths. We need to take 20 wickets," he said.
