Former Indian player Sadagoppan Ramesh urged in-form India batter Devdutt Padikkal to convert his hundred into a bigger score in the ongoing first Test against Sri Lanka at Galle. Returning to the playing XI for the longer format, after almost two years, he smashed his maiden red-ball century for India as well. Padikkal finished the opening day unbeaten on 131 off 178 balls as India managed a dominant 288/2 in 73 overs at stumps.

He said on his YouTube channel: “My only advice to Padikkal would be that this 150 isn’t enough. He should go for a big 200 or even a 300 if possible. Because when it comes to certain players, whether they occasionally score a century or often score centuries, some in the team management are only plotting ways to remove them from the team. Thus, Padikkal must go for a huge score.”

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Sadagoppan Ramesh also believes Devdutt Padikkal has sealed his place as Team India’s No.3 with his back-to-back centuries on the ongoing Sri Lankan redball tour as well.

“Padikkal needs to be given so many more opportunities in Tests. After all, his last Test came at Perth in 2024 in a series where all the Indian batters struggled. India’s average score that entire series was only 210. So only in a series which was challenging for batters was Padikkal given a chance, and even then only in one Test. With his hundred in the warm-up game and now in the first Test, he hasn’t just knocked the door for selection but broken the door and gone inside,” Sadagoppan Ramesh concluded.