The No. 3 slot in Indian Test batsmanship has featured some splendid players. Dilip Vengsarkar, Rahul Dravid and Cheteshwar Pujara turned out in the past, and cut to the present, it is either Sai Sudharsan or Devdutt Padikkal, who occupy this vital position. In the first Test at the Galle International Stadium, Padikkal did well with scores of 167 and 44.

“Cricket has its injuries and things like that (Sai Sudharsan being injured) happen. Sai has been doing well for us and he is a very talented player. At the end of the day, whoever gets that opportunity, it is important that we take that opportunity and help the team win. As long as we are doing that, everyone is happy,” Padikkal told the media here on Tuesday.

“At No. 3, you understand what’s really happening on the pitch. Especially, if there has been an opening partnership, you always know what you are going into. I try to keep things simple,” Padikkal said.

Padikkal, who has excelled in the IPL besides finding his groove in Tests, spoke about the adjustments between white and red-ball cricket: “My technique changes quite a bit but at the same time it’s about making sure that I am in a position to tackle whatever is coming towards me. In white-ball cricket, I have a particular set-up that helps me play a lot more shots, it frees my arms a bit. But in red ball, it’s important that I tighten that side of my game and keep my hands a little closer.”

There was this synergy Padikkal shared with Karnataka-mate K.L. Rahul, and he elaborated on that: “Batting with KL is always enjoyable. We have played quite a few innings together, even with Karnataka as well. We had some long partnerships. He understands the tempo in which I bat. And I do the same as well. When you have that kind of chemistry, it helps in stitching a partnership.”

About his interactions with Dravid, Padikkal said: “He has always been a great support. He has always been open to having a chat whenever I have needed to.”

And as for the pitch in the ongoing Test, he said: “It started turning a little bit more and as a team trying to get 10 wickets, that is a good sign. Hopefully, it will continue to deteriorate (on the final day)”.

At a picture-postcard venue, India preferred to sweat it out. Shubman Gill’s men buckled down at the nets, focusing on their training in the lead-up to the first Test, which is set to commence in Galle over the weekend. Around them, the Galle International Stadium was being spruced up while broadcast crews busily set up their equipment on Thursday (August 13, 2026).

The odd sorties with a football and fielding drills were the preferred initial exercises. The think tank of coach Gautam Gambhir, captain Gill and chief selector Ajit Agarkar looked at the pitch, which was a dull shade of brown in contrast to the lush green outfield.

The focus in catching emphasised being ambidextrous, as fielders were encouraged to make one-handed catches with either hand. Reactions to the ricochet effect when a ball deflects off the stumps were also sharpened, as fielding coach Subhadeep Ghosh maintained intensity.

Later the players trooped into the adjacent nets, and openers K.L. Rahul and Yashasvi Jaiswal countered the usual medley of pace, spin and throw-downs. Rishabh Pant, Dhruv Jurel, Shubman Gill and Devdutt Padikkal also had their stints. These batters could well be in the top-six for India, while Sarfaraz Khan, who replaced the injured Sai Sudarshan in the squad, also participated.

Among the bowlers, Mohammed Siraj and Prasidh Krishna led the seamers, while Kuldeep Yadav turned his arm over in the spinners’ corner. Perhaps in their effort to gain that extra yard of pace, some of India’s speedsters overstepped in their final delivery stride. Hopefully this aberration will not be repeated against the Sri Lankans.

When the afternoon sun intensified the heat, Pant worked on his wicket-keeping drills with a tennis ball. Gradually, all the players sought relief in the air-conditioned dressing room while some tourists busied themselves flying kites from the nearby Dutch fort.