'It's important that the team wins' – Devdutt Padikkal after India's draw in second Test in Colombo

India drew their second Test against Sri Lanka in Colombo from August 23 to 27, 2026. Devdutt Padikkal, the left-handed batter, played a significant role in the match with a century in the second innings, continuing his strong form throughout the series.

Padikkal struck 117 runs in the second Test at Colombo. His innings was built through substantial partnerships, including a 120-run stand with Shubman Gill and a 74-run stand with Ravindra Jadeja across three separate batting phases, demonstrating his ability to construct innings in different match situations.

"Would have been better, if we won this game. It was quite similar to be honest, it was slow here as well. Takes a lot of clarity, you need to have clear plans. There are plans in the dressing room, and everyone came up with their own plans. You always want to play and represent your country," said Padikkal after the match.

"You have to make sure you have to be ready for the opportunity. That's a part of the game, you got to forget that as fast as possible. You got to move on to the next ball, that's what I tried to do. I am happy to score runs, doesn't matter. It's important that the team wins. A lot of work to do, it's a young side, everyone is really hungry. I am sure we will continue to improve," he added.

Padikkal's century in the second Test

Padikkal's century in Colombo followed strong form in the opening match of the series. He had scored 167 runs in the first Test at Galle from August 15 to 19, 2026, establishing himself as a key contributor to India's batting effort across different venues.

Series performance and Player of the Series

Across the two-Test series, Padikkal accumulated 328 runs at an average of 109.33, earning the Player of the Series award. His back-to-back centuries demonstrated consistency and technical soundness against Sri Lankan bowling, with the left-handed batter proving effective in both Galle and Colombo conditions.

The 25-year-old left-handed batter, born on July 7, 2000, made his Test debut on March 7, 2024, against England. He was selected for this series after Sai Sudharsan was ruled out with a stress fracture of the toe, providing Padikkal with an opportunity to establish himself in India's Test batting lineup.