Devdutt Padikkal Shines Again as India Builds Strong Lead in First Test
India's Strong Position on Day Four
On the fourth day of the first Test, Devdutt Padikkal anchored the innings with a composed 44 runs, helping India reach 116 for four at lunch and extending their overall lead to a substantial 294 runs.
Padikkal, who scored an impressive 167 in the first innings, appeared to be in excellent form once more before his dismissal in the final moments of the session.
At the break, Rishabh Pant (21) and Dhruv Jurel (5) were at the crease, following a first innings lead of 178 established on the previous day.
India's second innings began on a shaky note as Yashasvi Jaiswal, struggling for form, edged a delivery from pacer Asitha Fernando to wicketkeeper Niroshan Dickwella in the very first over.
Jaiswal, now primarily a one-format player, needs to find a way to score significant runs soon, as his recent performance has been underwhelming with just one fifty in his last eight Test innings.
KL Rahul looked solid and even displayed some aggression, hitting two sixes off Prabath Jayasuriya—one over long off and another towards the sight screen.
However, after a successful DRS review saved him from a leg-before decision at 25, Rahul eventually fell to Jayasuriya after contributing 65 runs for the second wicket alongside Padikkal.
Captain Shubman Gill also did not last long, getting out leg before to Jayasuriya.
In a concerning turn of events for Sri Lanka, Dinesh Chandimal was sidelined due to a shoulder injury sustained while fielding at the boundary and was taken to the hospital for precautionary scans.
Despite the commotion surrounding Chandimal, Padikkal remained unfazed, batting confidently from the outset. The left-handed batsman skillfully swept and cut the spinners, accumulating crucial runs to help India pull away from the hosts.
One of the highlights of his innings was a straight punch off off-spinner Keshara Nuwantha, showcasing his ability to capitalize on even well-delivered balls.
Ultimately, Padikkal was dismissed by a sharp delivery from Nuwantha that caught him on the back foot. Although he opted for DRS, it did not overturn the decision.