India’s No.3 batter Devdutt Padikkal, who scored an exceptional 167-run knock off 230 balls in the first Test against Sri Lanka, which is currently underway in Galle, has opened up about his daddy century.
Speaking to the broadcaster Sony Sports Network after the end of the second day’s play, Padikkal revealed that he was completely focused even after reaching a century on the first day’s play. Furthermore, he has also credited former Karnataka cricketers behind his marathon knock.
“I think, honestly, it’s just the hunger to score more runs. I just enjoy batting out there and the moment you get to hundred, it’s easy to relax and feel that relief. But for me, the next 20-30 balls are a really important phase that I try and make sure that I’m completely focused, completely there,” Padikkal told Sony Sports Network after the second day’s play.
“I think when I get past those first ten balls after [getting to my] hundred, I think it makes my job a whole lot easier. And over the years, I’ve seen so many cricketers get big runs, get big hundreds, especially back in Karnataka, so just watching them bat makes me want to do the same,” he added.
Furthermore, the No.3 batter has insisted that the surface isn’t offering a lot of turn at the moment. However, the cherry is expected to turn a lot in another couple of sessions once the surface starts breaking up.
“Not [turning] a whole lot more. I think it will take probably another couple of sessions for [the pitch] to really start breaking up. But I think we know that in Galle, especially, it tends to quicken up pretty fast on the third and fourth day, so we are expecting that to happen again. Hopefully, it will help our bowlers as well,” he concluded.
