New Delhi: Devdutt Padikkal has caught everyone's attention with his brilliant batting in the first Test being played between India and Sri Lanka in Galle. Padikkal, who landed at number-3, made many big records in his name by playing an excellent inning of 167 runs. Thanks to his innings, India was successful in reaching 460 runs for 9 wickets in the first innings.
Fifth Indian to score 150+ runs in Sri Lanka
Padikkal has become the fifth Indian batsman to score 150 or more runs on Sri Lankan soil. Before him, Sachin Tendulkar, Virender Sehwag, Shikhar Dhawan and Cheteshwar Pujara have achieved this feat.
The special thing is that Padikkal achieved this feat at the age of just 26. He achieved the distinction of becoming the youngest Indian batsman to score 150+ runs in Sri Lanka, leaving behind the record of Cheteshwar Pujara.
Overtook Pujara at number-3
Padikkal also made the record of playing the highest innings at number-3 as an Indian batsman in Sri Lanka. His innings of 167 runs left Cheteshwar Pujara's record of 153 runs behind. Pujara had scored 153 runs while batting at number-3 in Galle in 2017. Now Padikkal has overtaken him and set a new record on the same ground.
58 year old record also broken
The specialty of Padikkal's innings did not end here. He also holds the record for playing the longest innings among left-handed Indian batsmen who batted at number 3 abroad. Earlier this record was in the name of Ajit Wadekar. He scored 143 runs against New Zealand in Wellington in 1968. Padikkal broke this 58 year old record by scoring 167 runs.
India eyes a big score
India is on the score of 460/9 in the first innings and the team will try to reach close to 500 runs. After this, Indian bowlers will be expected to put pressure on Sri Lanka. However, rain in the first two days has caused a lot of disruption in the match. In such a situation, Team India would like to play maximum overs on the third day and get a chance to get the wickets of Sri Lanka quickly.