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Devdutt Padikkal, who is in great form, has scored a century after returning to the Test team. Padikkal batted in excellent rhythm on the first day of the Test match being played against Sri Lanka in Galle (15 August) and completed his century in just 134 balls. This is the first century of his Test career. With this century, 26 year old Padikkal has ended the drought that had been going on for two years. In fact, for the first time since September 2024, a number-3 batsman of the Indian team has scored a century.

The last Test century in this important position for the Indian team was scored by Shubman Gill. He achieved this feat in the Chennai Test against Bangladesh. After this, there was a century drought of 35 innings. During this, Gill himself, KL Rahul and Sai Sudarshan batted at number-3 but no one could score a century. Padikkal has now confirmed his place at this position by grabbing the opportunity given by Sudarshan's injury and scoring a century with both hands.

Most innings by Indian No. 3 batsmen in Tests without scoring a century:

• 57 innings – February 1968 to January 1975
• 54 innings – August 2019 to December 2022
• 35 innings – December 1948 to March 1953
• 35 innings – September 2024 to June 2026

Padikkal hit a four on the spot

Left-handed batsman Padikkal had played an unbeaten inning of 142 runs in the warm-up match against Sri Lanka Cricket XI before the Test series, which secured his place for the Galle Test. Now all Padikkal had to do was to ensure that Sudarshan is not dropped from the playing XI even after his return. He did something similar.

Padikkal, who came to the crease after Yashasvi Jaiswal (37) was unfortunately run out on the last ball of the 11th over, opened his account with a four and then hit a six on the very first ball of the next over. He never allowed any pressure on KL Rahul and completed his fifty in 81 balls. Padikkal and Rahul kept Sri Lanka hungry for wickets for almost one and a half sessions. After the T-break, Pidakkal moved towards his century by hitting two consecutive fours against Laharu Kumara and then completed his century in 134 balls by taking a single in Nuvantha's over.

He hit 9 fours and 1 six while reaching his century. India is in a very strong position amid the rain disruption. Till the time of writing the news, Team India's score is 246/2. Rishabh Pant is at the crease with Padikkal. KL Rahul retired hurt after scoring 77 runs, while captain Shubman Gill became the victim of Prabhat Jayasuriya after scoring 16 runs.