Devdutt Padikkal scored 117 to carry India to 300 for five at the close of the opening day of the second and final Test against Sri Lanka at the Sinhalese Sports Club ground in Colombo on Sunday.
It was Padikkal’s second hundred in consecutive Tests, following the 167 he made at Galle, and only the fourth Test of his career. He faced 193 balls and hit 12 fours, reaching his century off 168 deliveries before Keshara Nuwantha bowled him through the gate.
India captain Shubman Gill won the toss and chose to bat. The innings was built around a 120-run third-wicket stand between Padikkal and Gill, who made 50 off 108 balls, and a 74-run fourth-wicket partnership with Ravindra Jadeja, who was bowled by Asitha Fernando for 43.
Two blows from Kumara
Rishabh Pant retired hurt on 3 after Lahiru Kumara struck him on the forearm, with India 207 for three in the 57th over. Kumara later hit Jadeja on the same part of the arm; the all-rounder batted on but was troubled by cramps in the forearm and was treated twice before falling in the final over of the day.
Asitha Fernando was the most effective of the Sri Lankan bowlers, returning three for 46 from 16 overs, taking the wickets of Yashasvi Jaiswal (45), Gill and Jadeja. Kumara had KL Rahul caught behind by Niroshan Dickwella for 18. Prabath Jayasuriya bowled the most overs, 27, without taking a wicket.
Padikkal was dropped twice in the opening stages of his innings — first off the very first ball he faced, and again on 1, when captain Dhananjaya de Silva could not hold a chance at slip off Nuwantha.
Jaiswal’s dismissal was followed by a brief confrontation after Fernando gave him a send-off. The Indian opener turned back to exchange words with the bowler before De Silva stepped in to defuse it.
Dhruv Jurel was unbeaten on 7 and debutant Saransh Jain on 4 at stumps, with India having faced 85 overs.
Sri Lanka must win in Colombo to draw the series level after India took the first Test in Galle by 165 runs.
