Veteran Team India batter KL Rahul applauded Karnataka teammate Devdutt Padikkal’s maiden Test hundred and backed the youngster to become a more consistent run-scorer for India as well. Padikkal, batting at No. 3 in place of the injured Sai Sudharsan, hit a stunning 167 off 230 balls in the first Test against Sri Lanka in Galle as well.

Rahul also said that he had watched Padikkal develop from his U-19 days, scoring massively for Karnataka before breaking into Indian cricket as well.

“In the last couple of years, he has been waiting for his opportunity and quietly toiling in the nets,” Rahul said in a BCCI video. “We have had a lot of chats about what he needed to improve and what to expect in Sri Lanka and in Test cricket.”

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Devdutt Padikkal had already shown signs of playing well, having scored for India A and made a hundred in the warm-up game before the Test as well.

“He loves batting and scoring big runs, so I’m really happy that he could get his first 100,” KL Rahul said.

KL Rahul, who scored his maiden international ton in only his second Test against Australia, said that getting an early hundred was important for Padikkal as well. Rahul also believes Padikkal is now well placed to convert starts into bigger scores as well.

“It is very important to get that early in your career so you can get that out of the way, start enjoying your cricket and take your batting to the next level. He understands his batting really well and he is scoring lots of runs. I think he will make that move into scoring bigger knocks for India and being more consistent,” KL Rahul concluded.