Padikkal makes Colombo pay as India close on 300 after Pant injury scare

Devdutt Padikkal rode his luck and then made Sri Lanka pay, scoring a magnificent 117 on Day 1 of the second Test at the SSC in Colombo to anchor India to 300 for 5 at stumps. The left-hander's hundred followed his 167 in Galle, making him the first India No. 3 since Cheteshwar Pujara in 2018-19 to score centuries in consecutive away Tests.

It was a mixed day for India. Padikkal's knock was the standout effort, with Shubman Gill's 50 the next-best score, while opener Yashasvi Jaiswal and Ravindra Jadeja made 40s. The day was also marred by an injury scare for Rishabh Pant, who was forced to retire hurt after being struck on the wrist by a short ball from Lahiru Kumara.

Early jitters after India opt to bat

India made a steady start after opting to bat, but Sri Lanka struck twice to keep the opening session in balance. Jaiswal was the more aggressive of the two openers, while KL Rahul settled in before falling for 18. Rahul had dealt comfortably with the new ball for most of his stay, even lofting Prabath Jayasuriya for a six, but a misjudged slash at a Lahiru Kumara delivery gave Niroshan Dickwella a straightforward catch.

Padikkal then survived a couple of early lives — first dropped at backward point by Sonal Dinusha off Kumara and then at slip by Dhananjaya de Silva in Keshara Nuwantha's over — before building a partnership with Jaiswal. Jaiswal brought up India's 50 in the 16th over with a boundary and batted positively, reaching 45 with nine fours. But after striking three boundaries in an over from Asitha Fernando, he fell to the same bowler's next delivery, getting a big inside edge onto the stumps. The dismissal was followed by a heated exchange between Jaiswal and Fernando before the Sri Lankan captain intervened.

Gill and Padikkal build the platform

Gill joined Padikkal, and the pair negotiated the remaining overs without further damage, taking India to 88 for 2 at Lunch. They continued India's progress after the break, with Sri Lanka struggling to create openings on a pitch that offered little assistance. The pacers resorted to short-pitched bowling, while the spinners operated with a line outside leg stump, but neither approach caused much trouble.

Padikkal grew increasingly assured and brought up his fifty with a well-placed drive, with the partnership crossing 100 soon after. Gill was equally composed, moving through the 40s with minimal fuss as India advanced to 150 for 2. Just when Sri Lanka appeared short of ideas, Gill gifted Fernando his second wicket of the innings, slashing loosely at a delivery outside off and edging through to Dickwella to end a 120-run third-wicket stand.

Pant retires hurt, Padikkal reaches landmark

Rishabh Pant walked in and survived a confident LBW appeal from Fernando off his only ball before Tea, with ball-tracking showing the delivery would have missed leg stump. India went into the interval at 187 for 3, with Padikkal unbeaten on 63.

India continued to strengthen their position in the first hour after Tea, but Pant's innings was cut short when he was forced to retire hurt after being struck on the wrist by a Lahiru Kumara short ball. Pant, who made 3 off 14 balls, attempted his trademark sway-away-from-the-line pull but was hit on the wrist, immediately appearing in discomfort. After treatment from the physio, Pant walked off, and Ravindra Jadeja came out to join Padikkal.

The change did little to disrupt India's progress, with Padikkal moving into the 90s and Jadeja contributing a few boundaries as the pair took India forward. Padikkal completed a memorable century, raising his hundred with a single off Jayasuriya. His innings ended towards the end of the third session, bowled by a flat, sharply turning delivery from Keshara Nuwantha, which ended a 74-run partnership with Jadeja.

Second new ball brings late strikes

Sri Lanka opted for the second new ball as soon as it was due and tasted immediate success, with Jadeja bowled on 43 by Fernando after shouldering arms. Saransh Jain, India's debutant, got his first Test runs with a boundary in the same over to bring up the 300 in what was the last over of the day. Asitha Fernando finished as Sri Lanka's most successful bowler with 3 for 46.

Brief scores: India 300/5 (Devdutt Padikkal 117, Shubman Gill 50, Yashasvi Jaiswal 45, Ravindra Jadeja 43; Asitha Fernando 3-46) vs Sri Lanka.