India vs Sri Lanka: Padikkal's Second Ton in a Row Puts India in Control

Devdutt Padikkal continued his stunning form with the bat, guiding India to a commanding position on Day 1 of the second Test against Sri Lanka in Colombo.

A Shaky Start, Then Padikkal Takes Over

Put in to bat after Shubman Gill won the toss, India suffered early setbacks in the morning session, losing both openers cheaply. KL Rahul fell to Prabath Jayasuriya, while Yashasvi Jaiswal was dismissed by Asitha Fernando after a heated exchange with the pacer, leaving India at 88 for two.

From there, Padikkal took control, riding his luck early on after being dropped on 0 and 1, before combining with captain Shubman Gill in a vital 120-run partnership. Gill played a composed knock of his own, reaching a serene fifty before falling to what he'd call a "nothing shot" late in the innings.

Padikkal's Second Century in a Row

Padikkal continued to bat fluently, adding a further 74 with Ravindra Jadeja for the fourth wicket, before ultimately falling for 117 — his second consecutive Test century after his match-winning knock in Galle. It's the kind of form that's putting his name firmly in the conversation for a settled place in India's middle order.

A Bruising Finish to the Day

The day had its physical toll too. Rishabh Pant was forced to retire hurt after being struck on the wrist by a short ball from Lahiru Kumara, while Jadeja, also hit earlier by Kumara, appeared to struggle with cramps before eventually being bowled by Asitha Fernando in the final over of the day, who finished with figures of 3 for 46.

Where Things Stand

India closed the day at 300 for 5, with debutant Saransh Jain unbeaten on 4 and Dhruv Jurel on 7. With conditions still good for batting, India will look to push well past 350 before turning to the spin attack that proved so effective in their series-opening win at Galle.

Author: Anirudh Gaur

Sports Management & Operations | Sportspredictor