COLOMBO, Aug 9: Devdutt Padikkal strengthened his case for a place at No. 3 in India’s playing XI with a classy century on the second day of the warm-up game against Sri Lanka Cricket XI, while Yashasvi Jaiswal, Rishabh Pant and Dhruv Jurel struggled with the bat.
India ended the day at 357 for eight in 90 overs, with Padikkal unbeaten on 142 and Ravindra Jadeja contributing a gritty 63 before retiring. Manav Suthar also impressed with a valuable 41.
Padikkal, who is likely to fill the No. 3 slot after Sai Sudharsan was ruled out of the series with a toe injury, looked in complete control. He struck 18 boundaries and reached his century in 121 balls.
Jaiswal was dismissed for a second-ball duck, while Pant made just two and Jurel one. Both were undone by off-spinner Ramesh Mendis.
Padikkal and Jadeja then added 72 for the third wicket, while Suthar and Jadeja put together another 76-run partnership to steady India’s innings.
Padikkal returned late in the day and added four more boundaries, further underlining his readiness for the upcoming Test series.
