Devdutt Padikkal strengthened his case for India’s No. 3 batting slot with an unbeaten 142 on the second day of the warm-up match against Sri Lanka Cricket XI in Colombo.
India ended its first innings at 357 for eight in 90 overs. Padikkal’s innings was the centrepiece of the day, with Ravindra Jadeja adding a gritty 63 before retiring out and Manav Suthar contributing 41 on his maiden overseas international assignment.
The knock comes at an important time for Padikkal. Sai Sudharsan, India’s first-choice No. 3 batter for this series, has been ruled out after failing to recover from a big-toe injury. On a surface that became easier for batting, Padikkal used the opportunity well and showed control against pace and spin.
Padikkal makes his chance count
Padikkal reached his hundred in 121 balls with a pull shot off off-spinner Ramesh Mendis. By the time he was asked to retire, he had struck 18 boundaries and had put together one of the most fluent innings of the match.
His scoring areas were clear from early in the innings. He began with cover drives off fuller deliveries and then found runs through cuts on either side of point. Short balls from both pacers and spinners were put away firmly, and he also brought out the Nataraja shot against the fast bowlers.
Right-arm pacer Ishitha Wijesundara came in for particular punishment, with Padikkal collecting multiple boundaries off him. The left-hander looked settled in his decision-making, giving the impression that he had time to choose between defence and attack. His footwork against the spinners was also tidy, which helped him rotate strike and punish loose balls.
Rahul and Jadeja provide support
India had an early setback when Yashasvi Jaiswal was dismissed for a duck off the second delivery of the day. He attempted to flash at left-arm seamer Vishwa Fernando and fell without scoring. Fernando finished with figures of one for 42.
After that early wicket, KL Rahul and Padikkal steadied the innings with a 96-run stand for the second wicket. Rahul made 40, taking time to get himself in while Padikkal scored more freely at the other end.
Jadeja then added 72 with Padikkal for the third wicket. His 63 came in useful conditions for batting, but it was still a valuable middle-order effort. The innings again showed his worth as an overseas batting option in the middle order.
Suthar also made a useful 41. For a player on his first overseas international assignment, the innings gave India another lower-order contribution on a day when some of the more established names missed their chance.
Pant and Jurel miss out
Rishabh Pant’s short stay was one of the disappointments for India. He made 2 before falling to Mendis, attempting to hit the off-spinner against the turn over long-on. The leading edge carried to long-off, giving Mendis one of his two wickets.
Dhruv Jurel also failed to make use of the conditions. He was out for 1 against Mendis after a forward defensive prod took the inside edge and went to short square leg, where the catch was completed on the second attempt.
Mendis finished with two for 77 and was involved in both key middle-order dismissals. The failures of Pant and Jurel stood out because the pitch had eased out and Padikkal, Jadeja and Suthar had shown that runs were available for batters who spent time at the crease.
For India, the main gain from the day was Padikkal’s assurance at No. 3. With the opening Test approaching and Sudharsan unavailable, his unbeaten 142 has put him in a strong position for a place in the playing eleven.
Source: The Hindu Cricket.