🏏Sri Lanka vs India, 1st Test, India tour of S L - Day 3, Page 22🏏 - Page 22

Padikkal (3/3): (Surface gripping a little bit more on day two?) Not a whole lot more. I think it will take probably another couple of sessions for that to really start breaking up. But we know that in Galle, especially, it tends to quicken up pretty fast on the third and fourth day. So we are expecting that to happen again. Hopefully, it will help our bowlers as well. (Are you the kind that celebrates hard after a big performance? Not really (smiles). I think I'm tired, so I'm just going to go back to bed now.

Padikkal (2/3): (Because if you look at the impact points, it's fully forward, fully back, it's a sign of confidence, isn't it?) Yeah, definitely. I think when you have that clarity in terms of what you want to do, I think that brings that confidence in your footwork as well. I think I was just looking to make sure that I commit to whatever I do 100%. Even if it's a defensive shot, I want to make sure that I really commit to playing that, so that made my footwork much better. (On the ability to convert the hundreds into big ones) I think honestly, it's just the hunger to score more runs. I just enjoy batting out there, and the moment you get to 100, it's easy to relax and feel that relief. But it's important that for me, the next 20-30 balls are the really important phase that I try and make sure that I'm completely focused, completely there. I think when I get past those first 10 balls after 100, I think it makes my job a whole lot easier. And over the years, I've seen so many cricketers get big runs, get big hundreds, especially back in Karnataka. So just watching them bat makes me want to do the same.

Devdutt Padikkal (1/3): (Your thoughts on the first Test hundred, must be very special!) Yeah, definitely. I've dreamt of this moment. For the last two years, I've been working really hard to try and make sure that when I get that opportunity, I can do something special like this, and I'm really happy to do that. (On his aggressive intent vs spin early on and decisive footwork) Yeah, I think we have discussed that at length, especially when you're playing spin, it's important that you have certain plans in your head. You cannot go out there and expect to react all the time. It's important that we have a couple of shots in your head that you want to play as soon as you go out there, so that you can put some pressure on the bowler as well. So, I think over the last year or so, we have really worked on trying to find ways in our own strengths that you can really implement to make sure that you put pressure back.

Playing in Tests for the first time since November 2024, Devdutt Padikkal hit his maiden Test century as India dominated Sri Lanka, reaching 288/2 in 73 overs at stumps after bad light and rain brought an early.

Day 3, the traditional ‘Moving Day’, will start early at 4.15 am GMT (9.45 am IST) to make up for some of the lost time and overs. Do join us early for all the build-up to the game.

Doesn’t look like there’s going to be a declaration. We can see Kuldeep Yadav and Prasidh Krishna padded up, suggesting India will come out to bat.

Can we expect 40 runs more from these two?🫣

Originally posted by: Prizi

Can we expect 40 runs more from these two?🫣

2 runs ,all out

116.4

W

Asitha Fernando to Prasidh Krishna, out Caught by Niroshan Dickwella!! Looks like there is some glove there, and Prasidh Krishna has been caught behind. Fernando continues bowling short from round the wicket and keeps it outside leg. Prasidh Krishna goes for the pull on this occasion, and the ball kisses the gloves before settling into the gloves of the wicketkeeper. India have been bowled out for 462, surviving just four deliveries on Day 3. Prasidh Krishna c Niroshan Dickwella b Asitha Fernando 2(7)

Siraj x dev

1 W down

0.2

W

Mohammed Siraj to Nishan Fernando, out Caught by Devdutt Padikkal!! Gone! What a start for India and Mohammed Siraj! This man has always done well against Sri Lanka, and it has taken only two deliveries for him to make an impact. A trademark away-moving delivery from Mohammed Siraj, and Nishan Fernando pokes at it, gets an outside edge and sends it straight to Padikkal at first slip, who pounces on it cleanly. Nishan Fernando should have left this alone. Nishan Fernando c Devdutt Padikkal b Mohammed Siraj 0(2)

SL First innings--

0.2

W

Mohammed Siraj to Nishan Fernando, out Caught by Devdutt Padikkal!! Gone! What a start for India and Mohammed Siraj! This man has always done well against Sri Lanka, and it has taken only two deliveries for him to make an impact. A trademark away-moving delivery from Mohammed Siraj, and Nishan Fernando pokes at it, gets an outside edge and sends it straight to Padikkal at first slip, who pounces on it cleanly. Nishan Fernando c Devdutt Padikkal b Mohammed Siraj 0(2)

0/1

Prasidh Krishna to Lahiru Udara, FOUR, first boundary of the innings! Nicely played by Lahiru Udara, who waits for this length delivery to arrive and opens the face of the bat to guide it past the diving gully fielder for four runs

Sri Lanka’s last 25 opening stands against India in Tests

Pairs: 9

Aggregate: 270

Avg: 10.8

Highest: 48

Single digits: 14 (seven zeroes, including today)

This sequence started with the third Test of the 2010 series in Sri Lanka. Before that, SL had five consecutive 50-plus opening stands against India (three in excess of 90).