Devdutt Padikkal smashed his maiden Test century as India reached 288/2 at stumps on day one of the first Test against Sri Lanka at Galle.
Playing his first Test since November 2024, Padikkal remained unbeaten on 131 off 178 balls, hitting 12 fours and a six. India, playing their 600th Test, elected to bat after winning the toss. KL Rahul made a fluent 77 before retiring hurt with severe cramps, while Yashasvi Jaiswal contributed 32. Captain Shubman Gill was dismissed for 16 by Prabath Jayasuriya, but Padikkal and Rishabh Pant, unbeaten on 27, added 52 runs.
Padikkal became India’s first left-handed No. 3 batter since Sourav Ganguly in 2002 to score a Test century. Bad light and rain ended play early.