Overview
- Devdutt Padikkal scored 117 as India reached 300 for 5 at stumps on Sunday, spending nearly five hours at the crease to anchor the innings.
- Shubman Gill made 50 and shared a 120-run third-wicket partnership with Padikkal that steadied India after early losses of KL Rahul and Yashasvi Jaiswal.
- Rishabh Pant was struck by a short delivery, retired hurt during Day 1, and Team India’s batting coach Sitanshu Kotak said Pant should be fit to bat on Day 2.
- Sri Lanka pacer Asitha Fernando finished the day as the home side’s main threat with figures of 3-46 and his seam work, plus defensive leg-side lines, shaped long spells for the visitors.
- Padikkal’s back-to-back big scores strengthen his claim for India’s No. 3 spot and a Colombo win would improve India’s standing in the World Test Championship while deciding the two-match series.