Source : INDIA TODAY NEWS
Brief scores: India (460/9 in 116 overs) vs Sri Lanka after the end of play on Day 2 in the Galle Test.
Devdutt Padikkal admitted he had dreamt of scoring a Test hundred for a long time after marking his return to India’s Test side with a maiden century against Sri Lanka in Galle. Padikkal’s 167 was the headline act in India’s 460 for nine at stumps despite the Sri Lankan spinners picking wickets at regular intervals on a rain-marred second day of the first Test on Sunday.
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“I’ve dreamt of this moment. For the last two years, I’ve been working really hard, you know, to try and make sure that when I get that opportunity, I can do something special like this, and I’m really happy to do that,” Padikkal told Sony Sports after the end of play on Day 2.
SL vs IND 1st Test: Highlights
His milestone innings capped a patient wait to rejoin the national setup. Having last featured in the format during the first Test of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy in November 2024, Padikkal earned his chance in Galle after B. Sai Sudharsan was ruled out with an injury.
The left-hander made the most of his chance at No. 3, producing a fluent innings and putting Sri Lanka’s spinners under pressure from the outset. He began with a boundary against debutant off-spinner Keshara Nuwantha before taking on left-arm spinner Prabath Jayasuriya, including a six that underlined his intent.
Padikkal said his approach against spin was built around having clear plans rather than simply reacting to every delivery.
“Especially 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 your head that you want to play as soon as you go out there, so that you can put some pressure on the bowler as well,” he said.
“So, I think over the last year or so, we have really worked on trying to find ways, in our own strengths, that you can really implement to make sure that you put pressure back.”
That clarity was also visible in his footwork. Padikkal was decisive in moving fully forward or fully back, allowing him to commit to his shots and keep the bowlers under pressure.
“I think when you have that clarity in terms of what you want to do, I think that brings that confidence in your footwork as well. I think I was just looking to make sure that I commit to whatever I do 100 per cent. Even if it’s a defensive shot, I want to make sure that I really commit to playing that, so that made my footwork much better,” Padikkal said.
The century was only the beginning for Padikkal, who has regularly converted hundreds into big scores in first-class cricket. Ten of his first-class centuries have been scores of 150 or more, and he explained that the hunger to keep scoring helps him move past the relief of reaching three figures.
“I think honestly, it’s just the hunger to score more runs. I just enjoy batting out there, and the moment you get to 100, it’s easy to relax and feel that relief. But it’s important that for me, the next 20-30 balls are the really important phase that I try and make sure that I’m completely focused, completely there,” he said.
“I think when I get past those first 10 balls after 100, it makes my job a whole lot easier. And over the years, I’ve seen so many cricketers get big runs, get big hundreds, especially back in Karnataka. So, just watching them bat makes me want to do the same.”
Padikkal’s innings was also significant for India’s plans at No. 3. He walked in after Yashasvi Jaiswal was run out following a mix-up, but quickly settled alongside Karnataka teammate KL Rahul. The pair put together a strong partnership to consolidate India’s first-innings position on Day 2.
Padikkal felt the Galle surface had not yet deteriorated significantly, although he expected it to change as the Test progressed.
“Not a whole lot more. I think it will take probably another couple of sessions for that to really start breaking up. But we know that in Galle, especially, it tends to quicken up pretty fast on the third and fourth day. So, we are expecting that to happen again. Hopefully, it will help our bowlers as well,” he said.
After finally getting the Test hundred he had waited so long for, Padikkal was not in the mood for a grand celebration.
“Not really. I think I’m tired, so I’m just going to go back to bed now,” he said.
– Ends
SOURCE :- TIMES OF INDIA
