Padikkal's unbeaten 142 secures No. 3 berth as Jaiswal and Pant fail
Devdutt Padikkal scored an unbeaten 142 on the second day of India’s warm-up match against Sri Lanka Cricket XI in Colombo on August 9, 2026, assuring his place in India’s playing eleven for the opening Test; Yashasvi Jaiswal and Rishabh Pant were dismissed cheaply. India completed their first innings at 357 for eight in 90 overs on the second day.
Padikkal’s artistic 142 not out and Ravindra Jadeja’s gritty 63 (retired out) were the standout contributions as India recovered on a pitch that became easier to bat on. Manav Suthar made 41 on his maiden overseas international assignment, and Padikkal struck 18 boundaries during his innings. First-choice No. 3 batter Sai Sudharsan has been ruled out of the series after failing to recover in time from his big-toe injury, opening the way for Padikkal to reclaim the slot.
Yashasvi Jaiswal fell for 0 on the second delivery of the day, attempting a flash at left-arm seamer Vishwa Fernando, who finished with figures of 1/42. KL Rahul contributed 40 and he and Padikkal compiled a 96-run partnership for the second wicket to steady the innings after the early loss.
Padikkal began with cover drives off fuller deliveries before employing crisp cuts both in front of and behind point; he was especially severe on right-arm pacer Ishitha Wijesundara. Short deliveries and anything short from pacers or spinners were pulled forcefully, and he also played the 'Nataraja Shot' against the pacers during his innings.
A pull off off-spinner Ramesh Mendis brought up Padikkal’s century in 121 balls before he was asked to retire; by that stage he had added 72 runs for the third wicket with Jadeja. Jadeja’s 63 (retired out) again underlined his value as a middle-order batter overseas even as his spin bowling stocks has depleted quite considerably.
The day also featured disappointing dismissals: Rishabh Pant was out for 2 to Mendis (2/77) after playing an indiscreet shot trying to hit against the turn over long-on, the leading edge carrying to long-off. Dhruv Jurel’s 1 exposed technical issues against the off-spinner — a forward defensive prod produced an inside edge that was caught at short square leg on the second attempt. Manav Suthar and Jadeja added 76 to steady the ship after those wickets.
Towards the close Padikkal returned to the middle and added four more boundaries to his quota of 14 while batting with Saransh Jain, who finished with 22 retired out. Padikkal’s unbeaten 142 has, with Sudharsan unavailable, sealed his selection for India’s No. 3 spot in the opening Test.
