Indian batter Devdutt Padikkal etched his name in the record books by becoming only the second Indian cricketer to score an international century on Independence Day, August 15. Padikkal achieved the feat during the opening Test against Sri Lanka at the Galle International Cricket Stadium, producing a magnificent century at No. 3 to help India dominate Day 1.
Padikkal follows Kohli into Independence Day club
Before Padikkal, Virat Kohli was the only Indian batter to score an international century on August 15. Kohli achieved the feat in 2019, scoring an unbeaten 114 off 99 balls against the West Indies in an ODI.Padikkal has now joined him in the exclusive club, but his achievement carries an additional distinction. He became the first Indian to score a Test century on Independence Day.
Padikkal makes no. 3 spot his own
Padikkal was handed the No. 3 role after Sai Sudharsan was ruled out through injury and made the opportunity count in emphatic fashion. The left-hander produced a fluent innings against Sri Lanka’s spin attack and remained unbeaten on 131 at the close of Day 1, guiding India to 288/2 after 73 overs.His century also ended India’s wait for a Test hundred from the No. 3 position. The last Indian to achieve the feat was Shubman Gill, who scored a century against Bangladesh in Chennai in September 2024.Padikkal also became only the second Indian left-handed batter in the 21st century to score a Test century from No. 3. Former India captain Sourav Ganguly was the first, scoring 136 against Zimbabwe in Delhi in 2002. Overall, Padikkal is the sixth Indian left-hander to score a Test hundred from the No. 3 position. The list is led by Vinod Kambli with four centuries, followed by Ganguly with three, while Salim Durani, Bapu Nadkarni, Ajit Wadekar, Eknath Solkar, Surinder Amarnath and now Padikkal have one each.
