Padikkal parks India at 288/2
Maiden Test ton on debut tour, unbeaten 131 at Galle; India coach credits back-foot prep. Rahul retired hurt; Sri Lanka lean on a debutant’s effort without reward.
India ended the opening day in Galle on 288/2, with Devdutt Padikkal unbeaten on 131.
Devdutt Padikkal walked in at No. 3 and batted through to stumps for an unbeaten 131 off 178 as India closed day one in Galle on 288/2 after 73 overs on August 15. Rishabh Pant was 27 not out alongside him at the close. The basic facts, for a change, did not need a slogan.
India batting coach Sitanshu Kotak said Padikkal’s work at the NCA on his back‑foot game, stepping out and the sweep underpinned the innings: “A lot of credit goes to him, the way he has prepared himself for the last couple of years.” He added India are flexible with the No. 3, treating their top order as interchangeable new‑ball batters. Those quotes are from the post‑day press conference carried in a report.
Sri Lanka’s spin and fielding coach Jordan Gregory praised Padikkal and noted KL Rahul was “unfortunate” to be injured after a contribution before retiring hurt. The report did not give Rahul’s score or diagnosis, and no medical update was on record at stumps. Debut off‑spinner Keshara Nuwantha bowled 21 overs for 98 without a wicket by the close — “asked a lot of questions,” as Gregory put it, answers pending on the scoreboard.