Former Indian cricketer praises Devdutt Padikkal as a strong contender for the No. 3 batting position following his latest Test century.

Devdutt Padikkal showcased his remarkable talent by scoring his second Test century during the ongoing match against Sri Lanka, drawing commendations from former Indian all-rounder Irfan Pathan. Padikkal's impressive innings of 117 runs off 193 balls contributed significantly to India's total of 300 for 5 at the close of play on the first day of the second Test.

After facing an early challenge, where Sri Lanka missed two difficult catches shortly after his arrival at the crease, Padikkal demonstrated resilience and composure. He anchored the Indian innings for nearly five hours, striking 12 boundaries along the way. His partnership with captain Shubman Gill was particularly noteworthy, as the duo added 120 runs for the third wicket. Gill contributed a solid 50 runs before being dismissed, while Ravindra Jadeja supported Padikkal with a valuable 43 runs, forming a 74-run partnership before falling to Asitha Fernando.

Padikkal's dismissal came at the hands of off-spinner Keshara Nuwantha, but his performance was crucial in stabilizing the Indian batting order after the early losses of Yashaswi Jaiswal and KL Rahul. Jaiswal managed to score 45 runs, while Rahul added 18 runs to the scoreboard.

India faced an additional setback when wicketkeeper Rishabh Pant was forced to retire hurt after being struck on the forearm while attempting a pull shot. Despite this injury, India maintained control of the match, with Fernando emerging as Sri Lanka's standout bowler, claiming three wickets for 46 runs.

Having secured a 165-run victory in the first Test held in Galle, India is now aiming to clinch the two-match series. Sri Lanka made several adjustments to their lineup, retaining Pasindu Sooriyabandara and introducing Kamil Mishara for his Test debut. On the Indian side, spin-bowling all-rounder Saransh Jain made his debut, stepping in for Kuldeep Yadav. Jain has an impressive first-class record, having taken 188 wickets and amassed 2,223 runs.