Padikkal, Rahul give India a confident start in Galle

A tricky wicket in Galle but Devdutt Padikkal shone bright on the opening day of the ICC World Test Championship 2025-27 series against Sri Lanka, remaining unbeaten on 131, alongside Rishabh Pant on 27 when the umpires called for stumps.

After Shubman Gill won the toss and elected to bat first, India's openers got off to a brisk start.

Yashasvi Jaiswal took the lead with his attacking strokeplay as KL Rahul settled in. However, Jaiswal's (32) stay came to an end after a confusion between the batters which saw the left-handed batter getting run-out.

Devdutt Padikkal, fresh off a brilliant display in the tour game where he smashed a hundred, continued his good form at Galle, as India built on their good start after rain had stopped play briefly after the first session.

Both Padikkal and Rahul reached their half-centuries in the second session, as their partnership crossed 100 in the 42nd over. The scoring picked pace from both ends towards the end of the session and India finished at 197/1, with both batters closing in on their centuries.

Rahul (77) felt discomfort in his bottom hand and was forced to retire hurt at the beginning of the third session. Skipper Gill joined Padikkal and the latter soon secured his maiden Test century.

Prabath Jayasuriya ended his Galle drought of going almost 97 overs without a wicket as the Indian skipper's poor shot was caught at mid-off by Lahiru Igalagamage.

Pant joined hands with Padikkal and the wicketkeeper-batter swung hard towards the end of play, slamming three fours and a six.

India will resume their time with the bat from 288/2 on day 2.

Speaking at the end of day's play to the reporters, India batting coach Sitanshu Kotak heaped praise on Padikkal for slotting into that no. 3 role effortlessly and slamming his maiden Test hundred.

“When I was at the NCA, he was working on his initial movement, he also worked on his back foot game. When we expect there will be turn, we try and work on stepping-out, sweep or back-foot game. A lot of credit goes to him,” Kotak told reporters at the end of day 1 in Galle.

Kotak further credited Rahul for adapting to different conditions and positions and laying the best platform for India.

“In Tests he opens, in limited overs cricket he comes in at five or six. He is flexible that way and in a young team when a senior like him plays well, it always helps. He takes responsibility, builds partnerships and is consistent.”

Kotak then assessed how the pitch transpired over the course of the day and revealed that the pitch would favour the spinners more as the game progresses.

“When we saw the wicket, we felt that it is on the drier side. And there is no doubt that it is on the drier side. 288 for two is a good sign for us but it is just one day and we have a long way to go.

"I don’t think it will crack but I think it will spin more as the game progresses. The overall record shows that as the game progresses (at Galle), the average return of the batters goes down noticeably.”