'He is someone who loves batting and scoring big runs…': Rahul on Padikkal

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In the first innings of the first Test match against Sri Lanka, Team India’s Devdutt Padikkal smashed a glorious century at the Galle International Cricket Stadium near Galle Fort.

Facing 230 balls, the left-handed batsman smashed 167 runs, including 15 boundaries and a maximum. Speaking on his knock, Team India’s veteran batsman KL Rahul said that Devdutt has come through the ranks of U-19s and made his way up to the national team.

“Obviously, coming from the same state, Dev is somebody that, you know, I have seen come through the ranks from under-19s and, you know, scored tonnes and tonnes of runs for Karnataka and made his way up to Indian cricket,” he said in a video posted by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI).

He then revealed conducting chats with the 26-year-old cricketer about the game. The veteran also said that the left-handed batsman loves batting and scoring big runs.

“In the last couple of years, he has been waiting for his opportunity and quietly toiling in the nets and trying to get better at some aspects of his batting. We have had a lot of chats over the last couple of years that he is been with the team about what needs to get better or what to expect in Sri Lanka, what to expect in the Test matches to come,” said Rahul.

“And, you know, he’s one of those players who’s come here before, scored some runs in India A as well. So, just getting used to the condition. He scored 100 in the warm-up game as well. So, he’s been amongst runs. He is someone who loves batting and scoring big runs and really happy that he could get the first 100,” he added.

IND vs SL 1st Test: Team India’s first innings’ star performers

Along with Padikkal, KL Rahul also smashed 82 runs in 175 balls, with the help of 10 boundaries and a maximum. Dhruv Jurel also registered 51 runs in 68 balls, including four boundaries and a maximum.

Later, Team India was bowled out for 462 runs in 116.4 overs.

Sri Lanka’s Prabath Jayasuriya bagged four wickets by conceding 109 runs in 39 overs. Keshara Nuwantha also returned with the figures of three wickets for 175 runs in 39 overs. Asitha Fernando managed to pick up two wickets and leaked 63 runs in 17.4 overs.

(With ANI Inputs)

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