3 weeks ago
Padikkal's unbeaten 142 seals No. 3 spot in Colombo warm-up
Cricket is a game played with a bat and a ball between two teams.
The India cricket team is in Sri Lanka to play practice matches, called warm-ups, before a real Test series.
In this warm-up match, the Sri Lankan team batted first and scored 363 runs.
When India batted, the first batter, Yashasvi Jaiswal, was out very quickly without scoring any runs — that is called a duck.
But Devdutt Padikkal batted brilliantly and scored 142 runs, which is a huge score.
He hit 18 boundaries, which are shots that send the ball racing to the edge of the field.
His teammate Ravindra Jadeja also batted well, scoring 63 runs before stepping away.
By the end of the day, India had scored 357 runs for the loss of eight batters.
Because he played so well, Padikkal is likely to get a place in the big Test match.
Two other Indian batters, Rishabh Pant and Dhruv Jurel, got out cheaply, which disappointed the team.
Devdutt Padikkal scored an unbeaten 142, reaching his century in 121 balls with 14 fours before adding four more boundaries late in the day for 18 total.
India finished the day at 357 for eight in 90 overs in reply to Sri Lanka Cricket XI's declared 363 for eight.
Yashasvi Jaiswal fell for a two-ball duck off left-arm pacer Vishwa Fernando (1/42), while KL Rahul made 40 as the pair added 96 for the second wicket.
Ravindra Jadeja scored a gritty 63 (retired out) and Manav Suthar made 41 on his maiden overseas international assignment, adding 76 together to steady the innings.
Rishabh Pant (2) and Dhruv Jurel (1) both fell cheaply to off-spinner Ramesh Mendis (2/77), while Padikkal's ton strengthened his claim to the No. 3 Test spot after Sai Sudharsan was ruled out with a big-toe injury.
- Who
- Devdutt Padikkal starred with an unbeaten 142; Yashasvi Jaiswal, KL Rahul, Ravindra Jadeja, Manav Suthar, Rishabh Pant, Dhruv Jurel, and Saransh Jain also featured for India, with Vishwa Fernando and Ramesh Mendis starring for the Sri Lanka XI.
- What
- Day two of a three-day warm-up match in which India reached 357 for eight in reply to Sri Lanka Cricket XI's declared 363 for eight, led by Padikkal's unbeaten 142.
- Where
- NCC Ground (Nondescripts Cricket Ground), Colombo, Sri Lanka.
- When
- August 8, 2026 (day two of the fixture).
- Why
- The match is a practice fixture ahead of India's Test series, and Padikkal pressed his case for the No. 3 Test spot after Sai Sudharsan was ruled out with a big-toe injury.
Key facts
- Match
- India vs Sri Lanka Cricket XI, three-day warm-up match
- Venue
- NCC Ground (Nondescripts Cricket Ground), Colombo, Sri Lanka
- Date
- August 8, 2026 (Day 2)
- India first innings
- 357 for 8 in 90 overs
- Sri Lanka XI first innings
- 363 for 8 declared
- Padikkal's knock
- 142 not out with 18 fours; century in 121 balls
- Key bowling figures
- Ramesh Mendis 2/77; Vishwa Fernando 1/42
- Other batting
- Ravindra Jadeja 63 (retired out); KL Rahul 40; Manav Suthar 41; Saransh Jain 22 (retired out)










