Devdutt Padikkal leads Indian charge on Day 1 as visitors call shots
India got off to a strong start on the first day of the first Test between India and Sri Lanka in Galle as Devdutt Padikkal led the charge.
Winning the toss, India opted to bat first. Yashasvi Jaiswal and KL Rahul roared off to a fine start. Jaiswal provided the charge in the opening stand, smashing 32 off just 37 balls, rocking five boundaries. Rahul was happy to sit back and play the second fiddle as India motored along.
Prabath Jayasuriya applied the brakes on India’s scoring when he ran out Jaiswal. However, that did very little to deter the visitors’ spirit as Devdutt Padikkal walked out to the center. Padikkal and Rahul joined forces and hunkered down to work.
The two added 150 runs for the second wicket before KL Rahul retired hurt for 77. Rahul went through severe muscle cramps and spasms because of the extreme humidity in Galle. However, Padikkal remained in the center and continued with the assault that left the Sri Lankan bowlers out of ideas.
DDP brought up his half-century by taking a single off Lahiru Kumara, slicing one to deep point. Rahul brought up his 21st half-century by drilling one towards long-on against Keshara Nuwantha and India simply kept on piling the pressure. Despite Rahul going back, Padikkal didn’t lift his feet off the accelerator, as he brought up his maiden Test ton from just 134 balls, pushing one towards mid-off against Keshara Nuwantha.
The Indian captain, Shubman Gill (16) fell early but Rishabh Pant came out to the center and arrested any further drop in momentum, staying unbeaten for 27 at the end of the day.
Padikkal remained unbeaten for 131 as India concluded the day that lost 17 overs because of rain in the middle at 288/2.
Brief scores:
India – 288/2 (Devdutt Padikkal – 131*, KL Rahul – 77*, Prabath Jayasuriya – 1/77)
