Devdutt Padikkal batted with class in IND vs SL Test at Galle | PC- AFP
India are almost leading by 300 runs in the Galle Test against Sri Lanka at Lunch on Day 4, thanks to Devdutt Padikkal's sensational display of batting throughout the Test match.
Playing in place of an injured B Sai Sudharsan, the stylish 26-year-old slammed his maiden Test century in the first innings, before rescuing the visitors on the fourth day with another spellbinding knock of 44 in the second innings.
Although Padikkal missed out on a half-century, he broke multiple records in the IND vs SL 1st Test match, where he looked head and shoulders above the rest.
Devdutt Padikkal sits next to Virender Sehwag in elite list
As Devdutt Padikkal notched 167 & 44 in Galle, he almost broke an 18-year-old record. Padikkal's aggregate score of 211 runs is the second-highest by an Indian batter in a Test match in Sri Lanka.
If he would have scored 41 more runs then he would have broken Virender Sehwag’s record of 251 runs (201* & 50), which he scored at the same venue in 2008, holding the record for the most runs in a Test match in Sri Lanka for India.
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That said, the southpaw went past the great Sachin Tendulkar, Shikhar Dhawan, Navjot Singh Sidhu, Sourav Ganguly, Sadagoppan Ramesh and Cheteshwar Pujara after scoring 44 runs in the second innings of the ongoing Test.
Most runs in a Test match in Sri Lanka for India
1) Virender Sehwag: 251 runs, Galle, 2008
2) Devdutt Padikkal: 211 runs, Galle, 2026*
3) Shikhar Dhawan: 204 runs, Galle, 2017
4) Sachin Tendulkar: 203 runs, Colombo (SSC), 2010
5) Sourav Ganguly: 192 runs, Colombo (SSC), 1997
Devdutt Padikkal races past Pujara; joins Dravid after Galle wonders
Moreover, Devdutt Padikkal has also become the third Indian batter after Rahul Dravid and Sanjay Manjrekar to score over 200 runs in a Test match while batting at number 3 for India.
Interestingly, Dravid achieved the milestone thrice (vs Pakistan, Rawalpindi 2004; vs Australia, Adelaide 2003; vs England, Oval 2002). Meanwhile, Manjrekar did it once during the famous Lahore Test against Pakistan in 1989.
200+ runs in an away Test for India
1) Rahul Dravid: 270 runs vs Pakistan, Rawalpindi, 2004
2) Rahul Dravid: 233 runs vs Australia, Adelaide, 2003
3) Sanjay Manjrekar: 218 runs vs Pakistan, Lahore, 1989
4) Rahul Dravid: 217 runs vs England, Oval, 2002
5) Devdutt Padikkal: 211 runs vs Sri Lanka, Galle, 2026*
Meanwhile, India's most decorated number 3 batter, after Dravid, Cheteshwar Pujara, fell inches short of making it to the illustrious list, as he once racked up 193 runs against Australia at SCG in 2019.
Can India push for a result in Galle amid rain threats?
After Lunch on Day 4, Team India have lost half of their side with nearly 150 runs on the board, but they are leading by 321 runs.
Although the Indian top order bowed out against the Sri Lankan spinners, Rishabh Pant is showing his character as the visitors look to strengthen their chances in the current WTC cycle.
That said, the rain predictions for the remainder of the Test match at Galle could make it tough to push for a result.
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