Devdutt Padikkal credits clarity and decisive footwork after maiden Test 167 in Galle
Devdutt Padikkal scored 167 for India against Sri Lanka in Galle on Sunday, marking his maiden Test century as India were 460/9 in 116 overs at stumps on Day 2 of the first Test.
Padikkal described the innings as the fulfilment of a long-held aim and said it came after sustained preparation. "I've dreamt of this moment. For the last two years, I've been working really hard, you know, to try and make sure that when I get that opportunity, I can do something special like this, and I'm really happy to do that," Padikkal told Sony Sports after the end of play on Day 2. The rain-affected second day featured regular wickets to Sri Lanka's spinners, but Padikkal's 167 was the standout contribution in India's total.
Padikkal returned to the Test side after last appearing in the format during the first Test of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy in November 2024 and earned his place in Galle when B. Sai Sudharsan was ruled out with an injury. He came in at No. 3 and immediately put the Sri Lankan spin attack under pressure, beginning with a boundary off debutant off-spinner Keshara Nuwantha and taking on left-arm spinner Prabath Jayasuriya, including a six.
Explaining his approach to spin, Padikkal said having premeditated plans was central to his tactic rather than reacting ball by ball. "Especially when you're playing spin, it's important that you have certain plans in your head. You cannot go out there and expect to react all the time. It's important that we have a couple of shots in your head that you want to play as soon as you go out there, so that you can put some pressure on the bowler as well," he said. "So, I think over the last year or so, we have really worked on trying to find ways, in our own strengths, that you can really implement to make sure that you put pressure back."
Padikkal credited decisive footwork to the clarity of his plans, saying commitment to movement allowed him to execute both attacking and defensive options. "I think when you have that clarity in terms of what you want to do, I think that brings that confidence in your footwork as well. I think I was just looking to make sure that I commit to whatever I do 100 per cent. Even if it's a defensive shot, I want to make sure that I really commit to playing that, so that made my footwork much better," Padikkal said.
He also pointed to a documented pattern in his first-class record of converting hundreds into large scores and described the mindset that helps him push on after reaching three figures. "I think honestly, it's just the hunger to score more runs. I just enjoy batting out there, and the moment you get to 100, it's easy to relax and feel that relief. But it's important that for me, the next 20-30 balls are the really important phase that I try and make sure that I'm completely focused, completely there," he said. "I think when I get past those first 10 balls after 100, it makes my job a whole lot easier. And over the years, I've seen so many cricketers get big runs, get big hundreds, especially back in Karnataka. So, just watching them bat makes me want to do the same."
Padikkal arrived at the crease after Yashasvi Jaiswal was run out following a mix-up, and he and KL Rahul, his Karnataka teammate, built a partnership that helped consolidate India's position on Day 2. On the nature of the Galle surface, Padikkal judged little immediate deterioration but anticipated change later in the match. "Not a whole lot more. I think it will take probably another couple of sessions for that to really start breaking up. But we know that in Galle, especially, it tends to quicken up pretty fast on the third and fourth day. So, we are expecting that to happen again. Hopefully, it will help our bowlers as well," he said.
Padikkal did not plan an elaborate celebration after reaching the milestone and instead said he would rest. "Not really. I think I'm tired, so I'm just going to go back to bed now," he said.
