Devdutt Padikkal remained unbeaten on 131 as India reached 288/2 on a rain-interrupted opening day of the first Test against Sri Lanka at Galle, with KL Rahul contributing 77 before retiring hurt.
Galle: Devdutt Padikkal produced the standout innings of the opening day as his maiden international century helped India seize control of the first Test against Sri Lanka at the Galle International Stadium.
Padikkal ended Day 1 unbeaten on 131 from 178 balls, guiding India to 288/2 in 73 overs despite repeated rain interruptions. KL Rahul supported him with a patient 77 before retiring hurt, while Rishabh Pant remained unbeaten on 27 at stumps.
India Choose to Bat First in Galle
India had little hesitation in batting first after winning the toss. The visitors opted for a combination of two fast bowlers and three spinners, with Prasidh Krishna retaining his place in the XI.
Sri Lanka handed a debut to Keshara Nuwantha and brought wicketkeeper-batter Niroshan Dickwella back into the side after an extended absence.
Yashasvi Jaiswal started positively by finding the boundary in the opening over, while Rahul took time to settle before opening his account with a four. Lahiru Kumara came under early pressure as the Indian openers attacked anything loose.
Jaiswal Run Out After Costly Mix-Up
Sri Lanka’s first breakthrough came in unusual fashion. Jaiswal collided with the bowler near the non-striker’s end during an attempted run, leaving both Indian batters stranded at the same end.
The confusion resulted in Jaiswal being run out for 32 from 37 balls, reducing India to 47/1.
Padikkal Takes Charge
Devdutt Padikkal immediately made his presence felt after walking in at No.3. The left-hander struck his first delivery for four and soon stepped down the track to launch Prabath Jayasuriya over long-on for six.
Rahul played the more restrained role at the other end, but he too used his feet against spin and kept the scoreboard moving.
The Karnataka duo combined for a 150-run partnership that placed India firmly in control of the opening day.
Rain Delays Play, but India Stay Ahead
Rain delayed the start of the second session and cost more than an hour of play. Once the players returned, Rahul and Padikkal initially resumed cautiously before gradually rebuilding momentum.
Padikkal went past fifty and continued to look assured against the spinners, while Rahul also completed his half-century as Sri Lanka struggled to create sustained pressure.
Rahul Retires Hurt on 77
Rahul began showing signs of discomfort late in the second session and eventually left the field after the tea interval.
The experienced opener retired hurt on 77 from 162 deliveries, an innings that included nine fours and one six.
Padikkal Completes Maiden International Century
Padikkal continued undisturbed after Rahul’s departure. He entered the nineties with consecutive boundaries before reaching three figures for the first time in international cricket.
His innings combined patience with controlled aggression, particularly against Sri Lanka’s spin attack. By the close, Padikkal had struck 12 fours and one six.
Gill Falls After Bright Start
Shubman Gill looked fluent after arriving at the crease and struck a couple of attractive cover drives. However, Sri Lanka finally got their reward through Jayasuriya.
Gill attempted an aggressive shot but mistimed it as the ball turned after pitching. He was dismissed for 16 from 28 balls, leaving India at 236/2.
Pant Provides Late Acceleration
Another rain interruption briefly halted the final session, but India resumed with positive intent.
Rishabh Pant initially took time to settle before attacking the bowlers. He struck a boundary off Keshara Nuwantha and then went after Jayasuriya with a six and a four.
Pant and Padikkal added an unbeaten 52-run stand before stumps, ensuring India ended the day with strong momentum.
India Batting Scorecard
| Batter | R | B | 4s | 6s | SR |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Yashasvi Jaiswal run out |
32 | 37 | 5 | 0 | 86.49 |
| KL Rahul retired hurt |
77 | 162 | 9 | 1 | 47.53 |
| Devdutt Padikkal not out |
131* | 178 | 12 | 1 | 73.60 |
| Shubman Gill c Lahiru Udara b Prabath Jayasuriya |
16 | 28 | 2 | 0 | 57.14 |
| Rishabh Pant not out |
27* | 36 | 3 | 1 | 75.00 |
Run Rate: 3.95
Extras: 5
Sri Lanka Bowling Figures
| Bowler | O | M | R | W | Econ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Asitha Fernando | 10 | 1 | 28 | 0 | 2.80 |
| Lahiru Kumara | 10 | 1 | 51 | 0 | 5.10 |
| Keshara Nuwantha | 21 | 0 | 98 | 0 | 4.70 |
| Prabath Jayasuriya | 24 | 4 | 77 | 1 | 3.20 |
| Dhananjaya de Silva | 4 | 0 | 15 | 0 | 3.80 |
| Sonal Dinusha | 4 | 0 | 17 | 0 | 4.20 |
Day 1 Key Numbers
131* — Devdutt Padikkal’s unbeaten score at stumps.
150 — Partnership between Padikkal and Rahul.
77 — Rahul’s score before retiring hurt.
52* — Unbeaten stand between Padikkal and Pant.
288/2 — India’s score after 73 overs.
What India Will Target on Day 2
India will begin Day 2 with a clear opportunity to turn a strong start into a potentially match-defining first-innings total.
Padikkal is already well set, Pant has started to accelerate, and India still have considerable batting depth through Ravindra Jadeja, Dhruv Jurel and the lower order.
For Sri Lanka, early wickets will be essential. If Padikkal and Pant are allowed to continue their partnership, India could quickly push towards a total beyond 400 and place the hosts under significant pressure.
Match Details
Match: Sri Lanka vs India, 1st Test
Series: India tour of Sri Lanka 2026
Venue: Galle International Stadium, Galle
Toss: India won the toss and elected to bat
Day 1 Score: India 288/2 in 73 overs
India’s day. Despite rain interruptions and KL Rahul’s injury concern, Devdutt Padikkal’s unbeaten maiden century ensured the visitors ended the opening day firmly in control. Sri Lanka will need early breakthroughs on Day 2 to prevent India from building a commanding first-innings total.
Source: Match developments and score information compiled from publicly available cricket coverage. Article independently written and edited by Pulse India News.
