Cricket
oi-Gaurav Sharma
Devdutt Padikkal is making a strong case for his place in India’s Test team after making the most of his opportunity in Sri Lanka.
The left-hander scored another stylish 117 in the second Test in Colombo on his way to a century for the second successive match. Coming in at No. 3 after the first wicket had fallen, Devdutt Padikkal remained resolute despite the Sri Lankan bowlers giving him a hostile reception.
Devdutt Padikkal scored his second consecutive Test century (117) in Colombo against Sri Lanka, strengthening his claim for India’s number three batting position. He joins elites like Virat Kohli with two Test tons in the island nation.
He eventually fell to a nicely timed catch at second slip by Keshara Nuwantha, but by then Padikkal had done enough to convince many that he could be the answer to India’s long-standing ‘number three’ conundrum.
Padikkal has had the chance to fill in as number three in the Test series in Sri Lanka after Sai Sudharsan was ruled out with an injury. And the 26-year-old has taken full advantage of the situation to score two consecutive centuries and propel himself up the order.
Devdutt Padikkal has joined an elite group of Indian batsmen, along with Virat Kohli and several other legends, on the honour board of having scored two Test centuries in Sri Lanka. He is now tied with Kohli, Vinod Kambli, Mohammad Azharuddin, Navjot Sidhu, and Ajinkya Rahane, with two tons apiece in the island nation.
Virender Sehwag, Shikhar Dhawan, and Cheteshwar Pujara have scored three Test centuries each in Sri Lanka, while Sachin Tendulkar remains the record holder with five.
It must be noted that Devdutt Padikkal has scored the tons when it mattered most. His stellar performances with the bat have given him the much-needed confidence and momentum to cement his position in the playing XI firmly.
Devdutt Padikkal has created his own magic and added another dimension to the ‘number three’ debate in Indian cricket.
