Padikkal century puts India ahead on Day 1 in Colombo

Devdutt Padikkal completed his second Test hundred and became the first India No. 3 since Cheteshwar Pujara in 2018-19 to score centuries in consecutive away Tests. After being dropped on 0 and 1, Padikkal made Sri Lanka pay with a fine 117 on Day 1 of the second Test at SSC, Colombo, following his 167 in Galle.

On a mixed day in which India finished on 300 for 5, Padikkal's run was the best, followed by Shubman Gill's 50 and 40s from Yashasvi Jaiswal and Ravindra Jadeja. With 3 for 46, Asitha Fernando was Sri Lanka's most successful bowler.

India made a steady start after opting to bat, but Sri Lanka struck twice to keep the opening session in balance. Jaiswal was the more aggressive of the two openers, while KL Rahul settled in before falling for 18. Even though Rahul lofted Prabath Jayasuriya for a six during the majority of his stay, a misjudged slash at a Lahiru Kumara delivery gave Niroshan Dickwella an easy catch. Padikkal then had a couple of early lives - first being dropped at backward point by Sonal Dinusha off Kumara and then at slip by Dhananjaya de Silva in Keshara Nuwantha's over - before building a partnership with Jaiswal.

With a boundary in the 16th over, Jaiswal scored India's 50th run and batted well, reaching 45 with nine fours. But after striking three boundaries in an over from Asitha Fernando, he fell to the same bowler's next delivery, getting a big inside edge onto the stumps. The dismissal was followed by a heated exchange between Jaiswal and Fernando before the Sri Lankan captain intervened. India reached 88 for 2 at lunch when Gill joined Padikkal, and the two of them negotiated the remaining overs without further injury.

Gill and Padikkal continued India's progress after the break, with Sri Lanka struggling to create openings on a pitch that offered little assistance. The pacers resorted to short-pitched bowling, while the spinners operated with a line outside leg stump, but neither approach caused much trouble. Padikkal grew increasingly assured and brought up his fifty with a well-placed drive, while the partnership crossed 100 soon after. Gill was equally composed, moving through the 40s with minimal fuss as India advanced to 150 for 2.

The pair looked set to carry India through to Tea, with Gill bringing up a well-made fifty in the 50th over. But just when Sri Lanka appeared short of ideas, Gill gifted Fernando his second wicket of the innings, slashing loosely at a delivery outside off and edging through to Dickwella to end a 120-run third wicket stand. Rishabh Pant walked in and survived a confident LBW appeal from Fernando off his only ball before Tea, with ball-tracking showing the delivery would have missed leg stump. India went into the interval at 187 for 3, with Padikkal unbeaten on 63.

India continued to strengthen their position in the first hour after Tea, but Pant's innings was cut short when he was forced to retire hurt after being struck on the wrist by a Lahiru Kumara short ball. Pant, who made 3 off 14 balls, attempted his trademark sway-away-from-the-line pull but was hit on the wrist, immediately appearing in discomfort. Pant left after receiving treatment from the physiotherapist, and Ravindra Jadeja entered to join Padikkal. Padikkal entered the 90s and Jadeja contributed a few boundaries as the pair led India forward, so the change had little effect on India's progress.

After that, Padikkal scored a memorable century, raising his hundred with a single off Jayasuriya. Keshara Nuwantha bowled a flat and sharply turning delivery toward the end of the third session, bringing an end to his innings, which had been a 74-run partnership with Jadeja. Sri Lanka opted for the second new ball as soon as it was due and tasted success with it as Jadeja was bowled on 43 by Fernando, shouldering arms. Saransh Jain, India's debutant, got his first Test runs with a boundary in the same over to bring up the 300 in what was the last over of the day.