Devdutt Padikkal Shatters Records with Back-to-Back Test Tons in Sri Lanka

Devdutt Padikkal’s explosive red-ball resurgence reached new heights as the 24-year-old southpaw smashed a brilliant 117 off 168 balls against Sri Lanka in the second Test, marking his second consecutive century on the island and firmly cementing his status as a long-format star.

The Colombo masterclass comes on the heels of Padikkal’s heroic performance in the series opener at Galle, where he hit 167 in the first innings and a rapid 44 in the second to claim the Player of the Match award. The twin centuries cap off a dominant tour for the Bengaluru-born batter, who also registered a three-figure score in the preceding warm-up match against the Sri Lanka Cricket XI.

Rare Milestone Places Padikkal Alongside Indian Greats

Padikkal's first-innings marathon of 167 at Galle was the highest Test score by an Indian batting at Number 3 in Sri Lanka since 2009. Following up with another hundred in Colombo puts him in elite company.

He now joins Vinod Kambli, Mohammad Azharuddin, Sachin Tendulkar, Virender Sehwag, and Shikhar Dhawan as one of the few Indian batters to score two Test centuries in a single series on Sri Lankan soil. Showing remarkable patience paired with sharp strokeplay, his temperament at the top of the order has repeatedly pulled India out of early pressure.

Sai Sudharsan's Loss Becomes Padikkal's Big Gain

Padikkal was not initially favored to start in the playing XI for this tour. Left-handed contender Sai Sudharsan was given an extended run across seven Tests, compiling 383 runs at an average of nearly 31. However, Sudharsan’s inability to convert any of his three half-centuries into a maiden Test ton left the door open for selection.

Capitalising on the opportunity, Padikkal stepped up with ruthless consistency. By stacking back-to-back centuries in high-pressure away conditions, the young batter has delivered a performance that selectors simply cannot ignore heading into India's upcoming Test calendar.