Former India player turned commentator Ajay Jadeja has applauded Devdutt Padikkal for scoring a swashbuckling hundred in the first Test against Sri Lanka. He shared his delight about Padikkal getting an opportunity, saying that he wasn’t in consideration for a place in the playing XI in the previous Test as well. However, Padikkal scored 167 runs off 230 deliveries as India ended Day 2 (Sunday, August 16) in Galle at 460/9 in their first innings as well.

During a discussion on Sony Sports, Jadeja said, “You can call it pure batting. He stuck with his approach and game from the first ball. It’s not like he played differently after the hundred. He played each ball on merit. He defended when required and attacked when required. We saw a pure batter playing. Pleasing to the eye. It seems like batting is so easy when he is playing shots.”

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“The partner also feels he is playing so easily. I like him a lot as a player. I have been waiting since I saw him four or five years ago. Better late than never. There was no talk about him one match ago. He came in when someone got injured. I feel the more quality bowling comes, the more you will appreciate this batter,” he again added.

However, former India batter Mohammad Kaif also praised Devdutt Padikkal for his back-foot play in the first Test against Sri Lanka as well.

“He is a good back-foot player. He remains more on the back foot. He got out on the front foot, not off the back foot. He scored 100 runs off the back foot. He uses the bottom hand well. The grip is low when he holds the bat. Whenever the two hands are close, you will have more control over the bat, especially for cuts and pulls. Back-foot play comes extremely handy when you go to Australia or England. Fantastic knock, and this was the perfect approach in a Test match,” Kaif said.