Devdutt Padikkal secures No. 3 spot after 142 in warm-up match

Devdutt Padikkal's unbeaten 142 in the warm-up match against Sri Lanka Cricket XI has strengthened his case for a Test debut at No. 3 in Galle. He absorbed early movement, rotated the strike with KL Rahul and then accelerated against spin once the ball began to turn.

Padikkal reached his hundred in 121 balls and showed the ability to smother turn with a long stride while sweeping when the spinners dropped short. His innings came after India had lost Yashasvi Jaiswal for a duck in the first innings and needed a platform on a wearing pitch.

The performance matters because Padikkal has waited 631 days for another Test opportunity since his debut against England in Dharamsala in early 2024. Sai Sudharsan has been ruled out of the series with a toe injury, opening a place in the top order.