Devdutt Padikkal century lifts India to 300-5 on Day 1 against Sri Lanka

Sri Lanka grasped at the game’s opening session only to watch a dropped chance bloom into a punishing century at the Sinhalese Sports Club. Entering the Sri Lanka tour of Sri Lanka 2026 as a replacement for the injured Sai Sudharsan, Devdutt Padikkal transformed two early reprieves into a masterclass on Sunday, August 23, 2026. According to reporting from AP News, Padikkal was let off before he even scored by Sonal Dinusha at covers and then on one run when captain Dhananjaya de Silva dropped a simple catch at backward point off Keshara Nuwantha. Punishing those lapses across nearly five hours at the crease, the left-hander compiled 117 runs off 193 deliveries with 12 boundaries, lifting India to 300-5 at stumps on Day 1 of the second Test in Colombo.

The sequence underlined the razor-thin margins defining the series. Having won the toss and elected to bat on a good batting pitch, India had stumbled early in the morning session, slipping to 66-2 after losing openers KL Rahul (18) and Yashasvi Jaiswal (45) to the probing seam attack of Asitha Fernando and Lahiru Kumara, as noted by News24online. Padikkal’s survival allowed him to anchor the innings through vital stands, putting on 120 runs for the third wicket with captain Shubman Gill — who notched his ninth Test half-century before edging Fernando to wicketkeeper Niroshan Dickwella — and another 74 runs with Ravindra Jadeja.

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Sri Lanka’s bowling coach Ryan van Niekerk praised the relentless application of his fast-bowling unit after the day's play, highlighting their clear plans and sustained aggression. I thought we fought really well today, fought hard, van Niekerk said via AP News, noting that the pacers kept running in and maintaining their speeds all day.

Fernando finished with the pick of the hosts' bowling figures at 3-46, later returning with the second new ball after 80 overs to castle Jadeja for 43 with an inswinger that the left-hander misjudged and attempted to leave. Yet the home side's afternoon momentum was tempered not only by Padikkal's resolute shot-making, including a scorching pull off Kumara that brought up his fifty in 90 balls, but also by an unfortunate injury blow in the final session.

Rishabh Pant, stepping in at No. 5 after Gill's dismissal, was forced to walk off the pitch retired hurt after facing just 15 balls. According to Sports, Pant attempted to pull Kumara’s first delivery of the 58th over behind square, failed to time his shot, and took a sharp blow to his left forearm just below the wrist. Pavilion images confirmed the wicketkeeper-batter was in immense pain as medical staff rushed to his aid.

The unfolding events in Colombo also saw significant squad shuffling for both camps. Sri Lanka recalled Pasindu Sooriyabandara for his first full Test after he previously served as a concussion substitute for the injured Dinesh Chandimal, who remained unavailable. Kamil Mishara also made his Test debut after replacing opener Nishan Madushka. India, holding a 1-0 lead in the two-match series following their 165-run victory in Galle, left out left-arm wrist-spinner Kuldeep Yadav in favor of spin-bowling allrounder Saransh Jain, who is making his maiden Test appearance.

Padikkal’s century places him in elite company, mirroring a historic away milestone by becoming the first India No. 3 since Cheteshwar Pujara in 2018-19 to score hundreds in consecutive away Tests, as detailed by Cricbuzz.

Whether Rishabh Pant will be fit to return to the crease and take the field on the morning of Day 2 remains the central unresolved question for the tourists as they prepare to resume their innings.

Series Context and Team Lineup Changes in Colombo

The second Test at the Sinhalese Sports Club carries significant implications beyond the immediate scoreboard, as documented by Crictracker and Cricbuzz. India entered the fixture holding a 1-0 advantage in the two-match series following a 165-run victory in Galle, meaning a draw in Colombo would be sufficient to secure the series. For Sri Lanka, the match represents a must-win scenario to level the contest. The hosts were forced into further adjustments due to ongoing squad vulnerabilities, with Pasindu Sooriyabandara retaining his place after initially featuring as a concussion substitute for Dinesh Chandimal, who remained unavailable. Additionally, Kamil Mishara made his Test debut after replacing opener Nishan Madushka. India also altered their bowling attack, leaving out left-arm wrist-spinner Kuldeep Yadav in favor of debutant spin-bowling allrounder Saransh Jain, according to AP News and TimesNowNews.

Key Lineup Adjustments and Series Standing for the Second Test

Team	Series Standing	Notable Inclusions / Debuts	Key Absences / Omissions
India	Leading 1-0	Saransh Jain (Test debut), Devdutt Padikkal (replacing injured Sai Sudharsan)	Kuldeep Yadav (omitted)
Sri Lanka	Trailing 0-1 (Must win)	Kamil Mishara (Test debut), Pasindu Sooriyabandara	Dinesh Chandimal (unavailable due to concussion protocols)

Padikkal's prolific sequence, following his 167 in the first innings at Galle and a 44 in the second, alongside a warm-up century of 142 as noted by News24online, has propelled him into rare historical company. Cricbuzz reported that the 26-year-old became the first India No. 3 since Cheteshwar Pujara in the 2018-19 season to register hundreds in consecutive away Tests. OneIndia noted that Padikkal's twin centuries in the island nation draw him level on the country's honor board with modern figures such as Virat Kohli, Vinod Kambli, Mohammad Azharuddin, Navjot Sidhu, and Ajinkya Rahane.