{"id":257952,"date":"2026-08-15T14:54:00","date_gmt":"2026-08-15T14:54:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sports.runfyers.com\/index.php\/2026\/08\/15\/perfect-no-3-in-test-cricket-after-pujara-fans-shower-praise-on-centurion-devdutt-padikkal-on-day-1-of-1st-sl-vs-ind-2026-test\/"},"modified":"2026-08-15T14:54:00","modified_gmt":"2026-08-15T14:54:00","slug":"perfect-no-3-in-test-cricket-after-pujara-fans-shower-praise-on-centurion-devdutt-padikkal-on-day-1-of-1st-sl-vs-ind-2026-test","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sports.runfyers.com\/index.php\/2026\/08\/15\/perfect-no-3-in-test-cricket-after-pujara-fans-shower-praise-on-centurion-devdutt-padikkal-on-day-1-of-1st-sl-vs-ind-2026-test\/","title":{"rendered":"&#8220;Perfect No. 3 in Test cricket after Pujara&#8221; &#8211; Fans shower praise on centurion Devdutt Padikkal on Day 1 of 1st SL vs IND 2026 Test"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><\/p>\n<div id=\"article-content\" data-postid=\"5205050\" data-slug-id=\"2822904\">\n<div class=\"vidazoo-player-container\">\n<span class=\"vidazoo-close-btn  hidden \"><br \/>\n<img data-lazy=\"\/\/staticg.sportskeeda.com\/cmc-predictor\/v2\/cross-icon.png?w=40\" width=\"20\" height=\"20\" alt=\"close\" loading=\"lazy\"\/><br \/>\n<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p>Devdutt Padikkal delivered an unbeaten masterclass in spin-bowling counterattack, registering his maiden Test century on Day 1 of the first Test between India and Sri Lanka in Galle. Stepping into the critical No. 3 slot as a replacement for the injured <a href=\"https:\/\/www.sportskeeda.com\/player\/b-sai-sudharsan\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" data-is-sponsored=\"false\">Sai Sudharsan<\/a>, the 26-year-old left-hander showcased supreme composure to position India in command.<\/p>\n<p>He came into the middle after Yashasvi Jaiswal&#8217;s dismissal following a mix-up with KL Rahul. He looked in complete control of the proceedings and guided his side to a dominant position at stumps on Day 1.<\/p>\n<p>His backfoot play and decisive footwork allowed him to dominate the bowling from the outset, carrying over the stellar form he displayed during the Ranji Trophy 2025-26 and the preceding warm-up matches.<\/p>\n<p>Reaching his century off just 134 deliveries with nine boundaries and a towering six, Padikkal used his height and extended reach to neutralize Sri Lanka\u2019s spin attack on a turning pitch. The Karnataka batter remained unbeaten on 131 off 178 deliveries, including 12 boundaries and a six. India ended the day on 288\/2, with Rishabh Pant occupying the other end at 27 off 36 balls.<\/p>\n<p><template id=\"also-read-articles-template\"><\/p>\n<p><\/template><\/p>\n<p>Fans showered praise on Padikkal for his magnificent hundred earlier today in Galle. Former cricketers <a href=\"https:\/\/www.sportskeeda.com\/player\/aakash-chopra\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" data-is-sponsored=\"false\">Aakash Chopra<\/a> and Sanjay Manjrekar also commended the southpaw for his dominating innings.<\/p>\n<p>Here are a few reactions:<\/p>\n<hr\/>\n<h2>Devdutt Padikkal registers two big milestones with his ton in Galle<\/h2>\n<p>This milestone holds historical significance for Indian cricket. Padikkal became only the second Indian left-handed batter in the 21st century to score a Test century from the No. 3 position. He joined former India captain Sourav Ganguly, who achieved the feat against Zimbabwe in 2002.<\/p>\n<p>Furthermore, the knock snapped a two-year drought for an Indian hundred at the No. 3 spot. The last Indian to get a Test hundred from No.3 was <a href=\"https:\/\/www.sportskeeda.com\/player\/shubman-gill\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" data-is-sponsored=\"false\">Shubman Gill<\/a> against Bangladesh in Chennai in September 2024.<\/p>\n<p>Coming after periods of injury setbacks and limited appearances since his Test debut in early 2024, Padikkal\u2019s innings represents a major breakthrough in establishing his long-term place in India&#8217;s top order. His fluent century not only solved a persistent tactical puzzle for head coach Gautam Gambhir and captain Gill but also underlined the youngster\u2019s readiness for the highest level.<\/p>\n<div class=\"article-post-rating-widget\">\n<p><template id=\"post-rating-feedback-modal-template\"><\/p>\n<div class=\"post-rating-feedback-feedback-box\">\n<div class=\"post-rating-feedback-content\">\n<div class=\"post-rating-feedback-data\">\n<p>Why did you not like this content?<\/p>\n<p><textarea id=\"dislike-feedback-text\" rows=\"4\" placeholder=\"Please type your feedback...\"\/>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>\n<button class=\"close\">Cancel<\/button><br \/>\n<button class=\"submit\">Submit<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p><\/template><\/p>\n<div class=\"post-rating-widget-parent hidden\">\n<div class=\"rating-parent-container\">\n<div class=\"rating-content-holder\">\n<p>Was this article helpful?<\/p>\n<div class=\"post-rating-action-container\">\n<div class=\"like-container\">\n<button class=\"post-rating-like-button post-rating-button\" data-action=\"like\" title=\"like article\"><br \/>\n<img class=\"post-like-image post-rating-image\" data-lazy=\"\/\/staticg.sportskeeda.com\/like-articles\/upvote-icon-grey.svg\" height=\"20\" width=\"20\" loading=\"lazy\" alt=\"like selected\"\/><br \/>\n<\/button>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"dislike-container\">\n<button class=\"post-rating-dislike-button post-rating-button\" data-action=\"dislike\" title=\"dislike article\"><br \/>\n<img class=\"post-dis-like-image post-rating-image\" data-lazy=\"\/\/staticg.sportskeeda.com\/like-articles\/upvote-icon-grey.svg\" height=\"20\" width=\"20\" loading=\"lazy\" alt=\"avatar selected\"\/><br \/>\n<\/button>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>\nThank You for feedback\n<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div id=\"tag-cloud\">\n<div class=\"tags-text\">\n<div class=\"scrollable-content-holder  article-padding\">\n<p class=\"article-p  \">Quick Links<\/p>\n<p><button id=\"pnAdvancerLeft\" class=\"pn-Advancer pn-Advancer_Left \" type=\"button\"><br \/>\n<img style=\"background: none;\" data-lazy=\"https:\/\/staticg.sportskeeda.com\/skm\/assets\/article\/article-scroll-left.svg\" loading=\"lazy\"\/><br \/>\n<\/button><\/p>\n<nav id=\"pnProductNav\" class=\"pn-ProductNav\">\n<\/nav>\n<p><button id=\"pnAdvancerRight\" class=\"pn-Advancer pn-Advancer_Right \" type=\"button\"><br \/>\n<img style=\"background: none;\" data-lazy=\"https:\/\/staticg.sportskeeda.com\/skm\/assets\/article\/article-scroll-right.svg\" loading=\"lazy\"\/><br \/>\n<\/button>\n<\/div>\n<p>More from Sportskeeda<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>\n<span class=\"publisher-name\">Edited by Ankush Das<\/span>\n<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.sportskeeda.com\/cricket\/news-perfect-no-3-test-cricket-pujara-fans-shower-praise-centurion-devdutt-padikkal-day-1-1st-sl-vs-ind-2026-test\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Source link <\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Devdutt Padikkal delivered an unbeaten masterclass in spin-bowling counterattack, registering his maiden Test century on Day 1 of the first Test between India and Sri Lanka in Galle. Stepping into the critical No. 3 slot as a replacement for the injured Sai Sudharsan, the 26-year-old left-hander showcased supreme composure to position India in command. He [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":257953,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"tdm_status":"","tdm_grid_status":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[6806],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-257952","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-gossip"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/sports.runfyers.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/257952","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/sports.runfyers.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/sports.runfyers.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sports.runfyers.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sports.runfyers.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=257952"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/sports.runfyers.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/257952\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sports.runfyers.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/257953"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/sports.runfyers.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=257952"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sports.runfyers.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=257952"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sports.runfyers.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=257952"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}