Padikkal century puts India ahead on hard-fought day

Devdutt Padikkal continued his exceptional form in the Sri Lanka series on Sunday, bringing up another century during the first day of the second Test. He scored 168 runs off 10 fours, despite being dropped twice by the Sri Lankan fielders. Padikkal's innings steadied the Indian innings, following his earlier 167 in the first innings of the first Test at Galle and 44 in the second innings.

Earlier in the warm-up match, Padikkal scored 142 runs. India's skipper Shubman Gill and Padikkal added 120 runs for the third wicket, helping India recover from the departure of KL Rahul and Yashasvi Jaiswal. Rishabh Pant (0 not out) joined Padikkal just before tea. Padikkal struggled initially, but after a reprieve when a chance was dropped off him, he displayed great skill in dispatching Sri Lankan bowlers around the park.

He scored a scorching pull off pacer Lahiru Kumara and a fifty in 90 balls, among other standout shots. Gill also contributed solidly, hitting a short-arm pull off left-arm spinner Prabath Jayasuriya that went over the fence, before losing his focus to edge Asitha Fernando to wicketkeeper Niroshan Dickwella. Earlier, India faced early pressure when Sri Lanka dismissed Rahul and Jaiswal in the first session.

After batting, India started well with Rahul (18) and Jaiswal (45), who put on 37 runs for the first wicket. Jaiswal showed good judgment by avoiding the cut shot and smashed Kumara for two boundaries in succession before executing a wonderful cover drive off Jayasuriya. Rahul remained restrained but showed glimpses of his shot-making ability, lifting Jayasuriya for a six over the head of the bowler. However, trouble soon arose when Rahul edged an edge to Dickwella and Jaiswal fell to Fernando.