Young Indian batsman Devdutt Padikkal etched his name into the record books with a flawless and gritty 167-run knock against Sri Lanka at the iconic Galle International Stadium. Reaching his landmark century on August 15, the historic occasion of India's Independence Day, Padikkal became the very first player in Indian cricket history to score a Test match hundred on August 15. Having finished the opening day unbeaten after completing his century on Saturday, he extended his innings on Day 2 with immense focus and tactical dominance. The left-hander brought up his 150-run milestone off 215 deliveries, eventually accumulating 167 runs to steer the Indian team into a commanding position in their first innings.
Ending India's Prolonged Number 3 Century Drought
The number three batting spot in India's Test lineup had been a point of ongoing concern, as the side struggled to get a hundred from that position over recent series. Padikkal's 167 ended a dry spell that had stretched across 19 Test matches and 35 innings without a single individual hundred at number three. In doing so, he also registered the highest individual Test score by an Indian batting at number three in Sri Lanka against the host nation. He eclipsed the previous benchmark held by Cheteshwar Pujara, who had scored 153 at Galle and 133 at Colombo back in 2017. Furthermore, among Indian left-handed batters featuring at number three in Test history, Padikkal now sits second only to Vinod Kambli, who leads the charts with his double centuries of 227 and 224.
Joining an Elite Club of Indian Batters in Sri Lanka
By crossing the 150-run mark at Galle, Padikkal became only the fourth Indian batsman in Test history to score 150 or more runs in a single innings at this famous venue. He joined a highly respected group that includes Virender Sehwag (201 not out), Shikhar Dhawan (190), and Cheteshwar Pujara (153). On a broader scale across all grounds in Sri Lanka, Padikkal has entered an exclusive circle of Indian players who have crossed 150 runs in a Test match, previously comprised of Sehwag in 2008, Sachin Tendulkar in 2010, alongside Dhawan and Pujara in 2017. In terms of the overall highest individual Test scores by Indians on Sri Lankan soil, Padikkal's 167 ranks fourth. He trails only Sachin Tendulkar (203), Virender Sehwag (201*), and Shikhar Dhawan (190), while moving ahead of Pujara's 153.
Unusual End to a Historic Innings and Stumping Record
Padikkal's marathon performance eventually came to an end when he was stumped out by the Sri Lankan wicketkeeper while attempting to advance down the track. Despite the disappointment of the dismissal, the manner of his exit sealed another remarkable statistic in Indian Test history. His 167 represents the second-highest individual score by an Indian batter in a Test innings ending in a stumping. Current Indian captain Rohit Sharma holds the top spot on this unique list with his 176-run effort, while Padikkal slotting into second place pushes Murali Vijay's 155-run knock down to third position.
