IND vs SL, 2nd Test: India eye big total after surviving challenging opening day

Sri Lanka’s bowlers refused to let India dictate terms for long periods, repeatedly asking questions through disciplined lines, short balls and movement off the surface. Kumara was particularly influential, accounting for Rahul and hurting both Pant and Jadeja, while Fernando provided the breakthroughs of Jaiswal and Gill before finally dismissing Jadeja.

There was also an additional flashpoint after Jaiswal’s dismissal when Fernando gave the Indian opener a send-off. Jaiswal turned back and exchanged words with the pacer, with his helmet touching Fernando’s forehead before De Silva intervened.

Despite the setbacks, India will take satisfaction from reaching 300 for five, largely because Padikkal ensured the pressure never became overwhelming. On a day when India lost wickets, saw Pant retire hurt and watched Jadeja struggle with an injury, the young Karnataka batter emerged as the difference-maker and gave his side a fighting position heading into the second day.

Padikkal eventually reached the three-figure mark through a passage that perfectly reflected his innings. He first drove Jayasuriya for a boundary to move to 99 before nudging the spinner towards long-on for a single two balls later. The helmet came off and the bat was raised towards the sky in celebration, but there was little time for prolonged emotion.

Padikkal immediately refocused on taking India to a position of safety. His stay finally ended when Nuwantha pushed one through his defence and bowled him, but by then the batter had done the heavy lifting. His 117 had transformed India’s position after the side had lost wickets at regular intervals and had also lost Pant to injury. More importantly, he had shown that his first Test hundred was no isolated achievement.

The century was markedly different from Padikkal’s previous Test hundred at Galle, where the surface had offered relatively little challenge during the opening two days. The SSC pitch provided more bounce and bite, particularly for the pacers, and demanded patience as well as technical discipline.

Padikkal responded superbly. He reached his half-century from 90 balls, bringing up the landmark with a four off Jayasuriya. Fortune also played its part, with Sri Lanka captain Dhananjaya de Silva dropping a chance at backward point off Keshara Nuwantha when Padikkal was on one. But the left-hander made full use of the reprieves. Against the quicks, he dealt with short-pitched deliveries by weaving out of the way or tucking them around the field, while against the spinners he relied on a dead bat whenever the ball turned or bounced sharply.

Who will win the match?

The situation became more difficult when Rishabh Pant was forced to retire hurt after being struck on the forearm by Kumara. Pant had managed only three runs before the blow, leaving India without one of their key batters at a crucial stage of the innings.

Later, Ravindra Jadeja also suffered a blow to his forearm from Kumara, with a visible swelling appearing on the veteran all-rounder’s arm. Jadeja nevertheless battled on and added 74 runs with Padikkal for the fourth wicket before Fernando eventually found his way through the left-hander’s defence.

The repeated blows left India facing a difficult examination in the scorching heat and humidity of Colombo. With wickets falling around him and Pant unable to continue, Padikkal was effectively forced into the role of firefighter despite having only three Tests of experience behind him.

India had appeared well placed when Yashasvi Jaiswal and captain Shubman Gill combined for a 120-run partnership for the third wicket. Jaiswal looked increasingly assured as he resisted the temptation to play the cut shot that has contributed to his dismissals in the past. He struck Lahiru Kumara for two successive boundaries before producing a superb cover drive against Prabath Jayasuriya.

Gill was equally smooth, reaching his half-century with several attractive strokes, including a short-arm pull off Jayasuriya for four. But both fell just when India appeared ready to build a commanding position.

Jaiswal was beaten by a superb nip-backer from Asitha Fernando after scoring 45, while Gill edged Fernando through to Niroshan Dickwella after making 50. Their departures meant India once again had to rebuild, leaving Padikkal to shoulder an increasingly important responsibility in the middle order.

Devdutt Padikkal produced a remarkable 117 to rescue India from a day of mounting setbacks, guiding them to 300 for five at stumps on the opening day of the second and final Test against Sri Lanka in Colombo on Sunday.

Playing only his fourth Test, the Karnataka batter showed tremendous composure on a surface that offered enough bounce and movement to keep the Sri Lankan bowlers interested throughout the day. Padikkal was not at his most fluent, with his 168-ball innings containing only occasional glimpses of the elegant strokeplay associated with him, but the value of his knock lay in the circumstances. He was dropped on both zero and one, yet refused to let those reprieves affect his concentration.

By the close, Dhruv Jurel was unbeaten on seven and debutant Saransh Jain on four, with India having negotiated a demanding day against a spirited Sri Lankan attack.

What will IND score in their 1st innings?