Devdutt Padikkal Scores Maiden Test Century in Galle Against Sri Lanka

Left-handed batter Devdutt Padikkal delivered a masterclass performance on the first day of the Test match against Sri Lanka in Galle, marking a significant milestone in his international career.

Key Highlights:
- Maiden Century: Padikkal reached his first Test hundred off 134 balls, featuring 9 boundaries and a six, while batting at the crucial number-3 position.
- Historic Feat: He became only the second Indian left-hander in the 21st century to score a Test century while batting at number 3, joining former captain Sourav Ganguly.
- Bridging the Gap: Padikkal's performance ended a dry spell for Indian batters at the number-3 spot, a position that had seen seven different players struggle with inconsistency over the previous 19 Test matches.
- Path to the XI: Having impressed with a century in the warm-up match against Sri Lanka Cricket XI, Padikkal was drafted into the squad as a replacement for the injured Sai Sudharsan and successfully seized the opportunity.