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Padikkal aside, his overnight partner Rishabh Pant was also tipped for a big score. But the keeper-batter could only add 12 to his overnight score of 27.

However, the other keeper-batter in the squad, Dhruv Jurel, playing in this Test as a specialist batsman, hit a brisk 68-ball 51 that helped India go past 450 after the Sri Lankan bowlers had a better outing than on Day I of the series opener.

A mini collapse

India had a plan to get their runs quickly after the weather cancelled out the day's opening session. But they lost wickets at regular intervals.

Padikkal, having addressed India's No. 3 concerns to a certain extent with his unbeaten 131 on the first day, and Pant began steadily when India resumed on 288/2 after Sunday's first session was washed out by rain and wet outfield. The duo added 19 to India's overnight total, before Pant tried to take on debutant off-spinner Keshara Nuwantha, only to perish in the deep-cover region.

KL Rahul, retiring hurt on 77 because of cramps on Day I, walked in next but could only add only a few to his overnight score. He failed to negotiate the turn and bounce from Nuwantha, giving a simple catch to Nishan Fernando at short leg.

Capturing two big wickets for just 12 runs put a spring in the Sri Lankan bowlers' steps. The hosts then added the prized scalp of Padikkal on the stroke of Tea, which did threaten to keep India below 400 at that stage. More so after Ravindra Jadeja was trapped LBW by Nuwantha for the off-spinner's third wicket.

The fightback

However, that's when Jurel took charge. He did enjoy a slice of luck on 29 when Lanka skipper Dhananjaya De Silva grassed an edge off Jurel's bat off the bowling of left-arm spinner Prabath Jayasuriya.

Jurel didn't score too many following the reprieve but did ensure to go past 50 for the first time in six completed innings. The 25-year-old's 55-run seventh-wicket stand with left-arm spinner Manav Suthar was important in terms of taking India closer to the 450-mark. "I know the conditions here (in Galle), having played for India 'A' (in June and July). So, I was under no pressure," Jurel said later.

Clarity in approach

Going back to Padikkal, a couple of aspects were pivotal to his maiden Test hundred - clarity in approach and hunger to register a big knock.

"When you're playing spin, it's important that you have certain plans in your head. You cannot go out there and expect to react all the time.

"It's important that we have a couple of shots in our head that we want to play as soon as we go out there to put some pressure on the bowler as well.

"When you have that clarity in terms of what you want to do, I think that brings that confidence in your footwork as well," he said.