India vs Sri Lanka 1st Test: Devdutt Padikkal’s first salvo — a win for planning and preparation
Devdutt Padikkal scored his maiden Test century for India during the first Test against Sri Lanka. The achievement follows a challenging period of intermittent appearances and high-pressure selection scenarios for the young batter.
Why it matters
The performance highlights the depth of talent in Indian cricket and the intense competition for spots in the national team.
A scrambled single to mid-off, a little leap in the air. The helmet whipped off, arms held half-aloft, his face bathed in a million-dollar smile. And just like that, Devdutt Padikkal became the 84th player to conjure a Test century for India.
And it wasn’t just any hundred. It was Padikkal’s maiden three-figure knock in the five-day game, in only his third Test appearance. These three appearances have come over a period of 29 months, which isn’t a reflection on the left-hander’s abilities but more a pointer to the logjam for places in the Indian batting which, despite its recent spin-infested afflictions at home, is still a formidable force.
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