Devdutt Padikkal Achieves Historic Century on Independence Day

In a remarkable achievement, Indian cricketer Devdutt Padikkal scored an international century on Independence Day, becoming the second Indian to do so. This milestone, achieved during a Test match against Sri Lanka, highlights Padikkal's rising star in cricket. His impressive performance of 107 not out not only marks a personal triumph but also addresses India's ongoing struggles with the number three batting position. With a strong recent form, Padikkal is poised to make a significant impact in the cricketing world. Read on to discover more about this historic moment and its implications for Indian cricket.

By Narendra Chaudhary Aug 15, 2026, 18:06 IST

Padikkal Joins Elite Company

Indian cricketer Devdutt Padikkal has made history by becoming the second Indian to score an international century on Independence Day. Notably, he is the first to achieve this milestone in a Test match, while the previous record was held by Virat Kohli in an ODI.

A Crucial Match for Padikkal

In a pivotal match against Sri Lanka at Galle, Padikkal stepped up to fill the number three position after regular player Sai Sudharsan was sidelined due to injury. This was Padikkal's third Test match, and he seized the opportunity to showcase his talent.

Padikkal's Impressive Performance

During his innings, Padikkal scored an unbeaten 107 runs off 147 balls, hitting nine fours and a six, achieving a strike rate of over 72 before rain interrupted play.

Kohli's Remarkable Achievement

Virat Kohli was the first Indian to score a century on Independence Day, achieving 114 not out against the West Indies in an ODI. This match extended into August 15 due to rain delays. Kohli is also the only Indian to have scored international centuries on both Independence Day and Republic Day.

Addressing India's Number Three Dilemma

Padikkal's century marks the first Test ton at the number three position for India since Shubman Gill's century against Bangladesh in September 2024. Since then, India has experimented with seven different players in this role, averaging only 27.28 runs with just five scores above fifty in 35 innings.

Padikkal's Recent Form

In his last seven first-class matches, Padikkal has been in outstanding form, amassing 702 runs in 10 innings at an average of 87.75, including three centuries and two fifties.

Current Match Status

At the time of the rain delay, India was at 239 for 2, with Padikkal on 107 and Rishabh Pant at the crease with three runs. India opted to bat first, starting with a 47-run partnership between Yashasvi Jaiswal and KL Rahul. Rahul contributed significantly with a 150-run partnership with Padikkal before retiring hurt after scoring 77 runs.