KL Rahul highlights Devdutt Padikkal's hard work leading to his impressive century.

Devdutt Padikkal has finally made his mark in Test cricket, achieving a remarkable milestone with his first Test century during the opening match against Sri Lanka in Galle. The left-handed batsman scored an impressive 167 runs, contributing significantly to India's total of 462 all out on Day 3 of the match. This performance comes after a long wait for Padikkal, who has been diligently honing his skills behind the scenes.

KL Rahul, the Indian vice-captain, expressed his admiration for Padikkal's perseverance and hard work leading up to this breakthrough. In a video shared by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), Rahul highlighted how Padikkal has spent the past few years preparing for this moment, focusing on improving various aspects of his batting. “In the last couple of years, he's been waiting for his opportunity and quietly toiling in the nets,” Rahul noted, emphasizing the importance of Padikkal's dedication.

Padikkal's journey to this Test match began well before the series, as he had already showcased his talent while playing for India A in Sri Lanka. His century in a warm-up match provided him with crucial experience in the local conditions. Rahul pointed out that these experiences, along with their discussions, equipped Padikkal with the knowledge needed to excel at the international level. “He scored 100 in the warm-up game as well. He's been amongst runs, he's someone who loves batting and scoring big runs,” Rahul added.

Padikkal's innings began after India lost Yashasvi Jaiswal early, but he quickly took charge, blending patience with exquisite stroke play. His innings featured 15 boundaries and a six, culminating in a score of 167, which stands as his highest in Test cricket. Rahul emphasized the psychological significance of achieving a first Test century early in a player's career, stating that it can help alleviate pressure and allow for more liberated batting. “I'm really happy that he could get the first hundred... it's very important to get that early in your career,” he remarked.

India's first innings concluded at 462 runs after 116.4 overs, establishing a solid lead over Sri Lanka. Alongside Padikkal, Rahul contributed 82 runs, while Dhruv Jurel added a crucial 51. Despite a late resurgence from Sri Lanka's spinners, with Prabath Jayasuriya taking 4/109 and debutant Keshara Nuwantha claiming 3/175, India managed to surpass the 450-run mark, setting a challenging target for the hosts.