Devdutt Padikkal moved closer to securing the number 3 position for India’s upcoming Test series against Sri Lanka. He scored an unbeaten 142 runs on Saturday in a warm-up match at the Nondescripts Cricket Ground in Colombo.
India’s number 3 batter, Sai Sudharshan, was ruled out of the opening Test with a right big-toe injury. This leaves the spot vacant for Padikkal, who helped India reach 357 for 8 against Sri Lanka Cricket XI. Consequently, he is likely to fill the top-order role when the Test begins in Galle on 15 August.
Padikkal Dominates Sri Lanka Cricket XI in Warm-up Clash
The 26-year-old batter walked to the crease very early after opener Yashasvi Jaiswal fell for a second-ball duck. However, Padikkal quickly took control of the game, hitting 18 boundaries off 164 deliveries.
A timely century from Devdutt Padikkal! 🔥
The left-hander smashed 103 off 121 balls against Sri Lanka XI before retiring himself out, making a strong case ahead of the Test series. 🇮🇳#DevduttPadikkal #SLvsIND pic.twitter.com/qotzgT7Wny
— CRICKETNMORE (@cricketnmore) August 8, 2026
Padikkal completed his century off 121 balls. He then retired from his innings to let his other teammates bat. He returned to the field later in the day, after the fall of the eighth wicket, and finished with 142 runs. He finished his innings with many elegant cover drives and mighty pull shots, including his famous ‘Nataraja Shot’ against the fast bowlers.
Building Vital Partnerships for India
Padikkal shared a 96-run partnership with KL Rahul to steady the Indian innings. While Rahul played carefully for his 40 runs, Padikkal acted as the main hitter. Meanwhile, the left-hander punished any short deliveries from both pace and spin bowlers.
After Rahul departed, Padikkal joined forces with veteran all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja. The pair added 72 runs for the third wicket in just 98 balls. Jadeja played a gritty knock of 63 before retiring out himself. This partnership ensured their first-innings total of 363.
Sai Sudharsan Ruled Out with Toe Injury
The door opened for Padikkal because Sai Sudharsan suffered a right big-toe injury. Doctors confirmed that Sudharsan has a stress fracture. Therefore, he will miss the opening Test and is unlikely to play in the second match of the series. Sudharsan had previously been in excellent form, scoring two centuries in unofficial matches against Sri Lanka A.
Sai Sudharsan has been officially ruled out of the Test series in Sri Lanka
Doctors have advised more time for biological healing of his injured toe pic.twitter.com/kNNx3n9Jjh
— Cricbuzz (@cricbuzz) August 8, 2026
Because of this injury, the selectors have called up Sarfaraz Khan as a replacement in the squad. Sarfaraz has a strong record against spin bowling and recently scored a century against New Zealand. However, Padikkal’s recent century in the warm-up game makes him the primary choice for the starting eleven. Head coach Gautam Gambhir reportedly prefers having a left-handed batter in the top order, which works in Padikkal’s favour.
India’s Growing List of Injuries
Sudharsan is not the only Indian player facing fitness issues. Several other key players are currently unavailable for the Sri Lanka tour. Jasprit Bumrah, the senior pacer, is resting and has been replaced by Aquib Nabi. The BCCI’s medical team advised him to delay his return. Harshit Rana is sidelined with a hamstring injury.
🚨JASPRIT BUMRAH WAS ADVISED BY THE BCCI MEDICAL TEAM TO DELAY HIS RETURN 🇮🇳
[@Crex_live] pic.twitter.com/zhm8M8v5pY
— TheWicketReport (@WicketReport) August 3, 2026
Nitish Kumar Reddy is recovering from a quadriceps injury. Shubman Gill missed the warm-up game due to a hand injury sustained during practice. These injuries have put pressure on the team management. Nevertheless, Padikkal’s form provides a reliable solution for the batting line-up.
Struggles for Other Indian Batters
While Padikkal succeeded, other key Indian batters struggled during the warm-up match. Yashasvi Jaiswal fell for a duck in the very first over after flashing at a wide delivery. Meanwhile, Rishabh Pant and Dhruv Jurel also failed to make an impact.
Pant scored only 2 runs before he was caught while trying to hit a big shot against off-spinner Ramesh Mendis. Similarly, Jurel scored just 1 run before he was caught at short square leg. Their failures against spin bowling are a concern, as the pitch in Galle is expected to be a spin trap. Therefore, Padikkal’s excellent footwork against the spinners is another reason why he is likely to start the first Test.
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