Devdutt Padikkal scores his first Test century, solidifying his position as a strong contender for the number three spot in Galle.

Devdutt Padikkal made a remarkable return to the Indian Test cricket team, achieving his first Test century during the opening match against Sri Lanka at the Galle International Cricket Stadium. The left-handed batsman, who has previously secured two IPL titles with the Royal Challengers Bangalore, showcased a confident performance batting at No. 3, reinforcing his position in India's middle order.

With this century, Padikkal has etched his name in the record books as only the second Indian left-handed batsman in the 21st century to score a Test century while batting at No. 3, following in the footsteps of former captain Sourav Ganguly. Ganguly's last century from this position was a notable 136 runs against Zimbabwe in 2002. Overall, Padikkal becomes the sixth Indian left-hander to achieve this milestone, joining an elite group that includes Vinod Kambli, who leads with four centuries, and Ganguly with three. Other notable names on this list include Salim Durani, Bapu Nadkarni, Ajit Wadekar, Eknath Solkar, and Surinder Amarnath, each with one century to their name.

Padikkal's century also marks the end of a significant drought for Indian batsmen at the No. 3 position, where the last century was scored by Shubman Gill against Bangladesh in September 2024. Since that time, India has experimented with seven different players in this crucial batting spot over 19 Tests, resulting in a disappointing average of just 27.28 and only five scores of 50 or more across 35 innings. The 25-year-old's impressive performance in the 2025-26 Ranji Trophy season, where he averaged 60.33, undoubtedly contributed to his confidence heading into this match in Galle.

Upon reaching his century, Padikkal celebrated exuberantly, pumping his fist and raising his bat to acknowledge the crowd and his teammates. His captain, Shubman Gill, congratulated him on the field, while head coach Gautam Gambhir and BCCI chief selector Ajit Agarkar, who were both present, joined in the celebrations, marking a significant moment in Padikkal's burgeoning career.