RESOLVING THE LEDGER
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The fabulous, fluent 131 not out off 178 balls against Sri Lanka on Saturday was more than Devdutt Padikkal’s maiden Test century. It was another comeback chapter for the resilient 26-year-old, who had waited 632 days for another India appearance. Padikkal’s career has been marked by such recoveries. After a modest 119 runs in five matches in the 2023-24 Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, he responded with 465 runs at 155 in the Vijay Hazare Trophy and 556 at 92.66 in the Ranji Trophy, including three centuries. The last eight months have been particularly productive. Named Karnataka captain in Jan, Padikkal scored 543 runs at 60.33 in the 2025-26 Ranji Trophy, including two hundreds. His back-to-back IPL titles with RCB have also added to his experience, including the opportunity to work with Virat Kohli. Playing his first Test since Perth in Nov 2024, Padikkal became the first Indian batter to score a Test century on Independence Day and ended a 19-Test, 35-innings wait for a No. 3 hundred. Coming off an unbeaten century in the warm-up game, he began confidently, hitting debutant off-spinner Keshara Nuwantha for four before launching Prabhat Jayasuriya over long-on for six. His ability to use the crease, play off the back foot and attack spin stood out on a slow Galle surface. Former India batter Sanjay Manjrekar hailed him as a “godsend for India” against spin, saying his defence, ability to rotate the strike and attacking shots made him ideally suited to turning tracks. Batting coach Sitanshu Kotak credited Padikkal’s preparation, revealing that he had worked extensively at the BCCI Centre of Excellence on his back-foot game, stepping out and playing sweeps. “I am so happy for him because he was actually waiting for his chance. The way he played here and in the warmup match, it’s really encouraging,” Kotak said. “We tried to work on step-out, sweep besides the back-foot game. A lot of credit goes to him, the way he has prepared himself for the last couple of years.” Padikkal’s hundred has strengthened his case for a longer run at No. 3, even when Sai Sudharsan returns from his toe injury. Manjrekar believes his proficiency against spin makes him a strong candidate to retain the position. “On pitches where there is going to be an emphasis on spin, India should bat him at number 3 even if Sai Sudharsan comes back, because he looks such a formidable player against spin,” he said.
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