India produced a dominant batting display on the opening day of the Test series against Sri Lanka, finishing on 288 for 2 in 73 overs in Galle. Devdutt Padikkal, playing only his third Test match, hit his maiden Test century and remained unbeaten on 131. Day 1 Highlights | Scorecard
Padikkal’s class and impeccable control ensured coach Gautam Gambhir, who had been under pressure, was thrilled to bits, cheering from the dressing room. KL Rahul, unbeaten on 77, retired hurt after tea due to cramps, after which Rishabh Pant joined Padikkal at the crease and remained there until stumps. Play was called off at 6 pm local time after rain delays shaved 17 overs off the day’s play.
Sri Lanka’s lead spinner, Prabath Jayasuriya, who usually weaves a web around visiting teams in Galle, was unable to break the resistance of the two Indian batters, who added 150 runs for the second wicket. The left-arm spinner dismissed Shubman Gill (16) cheaply, but the India captain was the only batter to fall to spin on the opening day after opener Yashasvi Jaiswal, who looked in fine touch, was run out for 32 in the first session.
Devdutt and Rahul complemented each other wonderfully well. While Rahul took his time and focused more on fending off the spin threat, Devdutt was free-flowing from the word go, taking the attack to the spinners by using his feet and the crease, dancing down the pitch and effortlessly rocking back onto the back foot to play the ball late.
Before the series began, India’s frailties against spin in home conditions had dominated the narrative. Over the last two years, Indian batters had struggled against visiting spinners, with India being whitewashed in home series against New Zealand and South Africa in unprecedented firsts. There was pressure on Shubman Gill and Gautam Gambhir, especially with Sri Lanka having not been an easy place to visit for tourists in the recent past.
However, Devdutt Padikkal led a disciplined yet flair-rich batting show on Day 1 of the first Test. On a pitch that had an even covering of grass, a little more than usual in Galle, batting was relatively easy and the spinners did not get consistent turn off the pitch. There was sharp turn on offer, but the Galle pitch behaved well on the first day of the Test match.
The conditions were, to be fair, picture-perfect for batting in Galle, but the Indian batters, especially Devdutt and KL Rahul, worked hard to ensure India made the best use of them. Devdutt became the first Indian No. 3 batter to hit a Test century in two years and 38 innings.
India seized control as their batters backed up the captain’s call to win the toss and opt to bat.
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