Devdutt Padikkal continued his superb form during India vs Sri Lanka. He scored his second consecutive Test century on the first day of the second Test in Colombo. His knock of 117 runs came off 193 deliveries and included 12 boundaries.
Padikkal’s performances in this series have been record-breaking. He now holds the record for the most runs by a visiting No. 3 batsman in a two-match Test series in Sri Lanka. The previous record was held by former New Zealand captain Stephen Fleming with 307 runs. Padikkal has now scored 328 runs in the ongoing series thanks to his two hundreds. He also became the first visiting player to score multiple centuries in Sri Lanka while batting at No. 3 in a two-match series.
The left-hander also broke a 27-year-old record held by Rahul Dravid. Dravid had scored 321 runs during India’s tour of New Zealand in 1998-99. Padikkal now holds the record for the most runs by an Indian batter in a two-match away Test series.
He is also the seventh Indian batsman to score multiple centuries in a series away from home against Sri Lanka. The others on that list include Vinod Kambli, Mohammad Azharuddin, Sachin Tendulkar, Virender Sehwag, Shikhar Dhawan, and Cheteshwar Pujara.
Padikkal shared a 120-run partnership with captain Shubman Gill for the third wicket. Gill scored 50 before being dismissed by Asitha Fernando. Yashasvi Jaiswal contributed 45, and Ravindra Jadeja made 43. India finished the day on 300 for 5, with Dhruv Jurel and debutant Saransh Jain at the crease.
A Look at the Most Test Centuries by Indian Players Against Sri Lanka
1. Sachin Tendulkar
Sachin Tendulkar leads this list with 5 Test centuries against Sri Lanka. He achieved this across two different tours. In the 1997 series, he scored back to back hundreds of 143 at Colombo RPS and 139 at Colombo SSC. In the 2010 series he scored a monumental 203 at the Sinhalese Sports Club. That was his first Test century in Sri Lanka in 11 years. He amassed 390 runs in the three match series at an average of 78.00. Tendulkar was the pillar of Indian batting for over two decades and his record in Sri Lanka is a testament to his greatness. He could adapt to any conditions and Sri Lanka was no exception.
2. Virender Sehwag
Virender Sehwag scored 3 Test centuries against Sri Lanka. His most notable innings was a breathtaking 201 not out at Galle in 2008. That knock showed his ability to dominate bowling attacks on any surface. Sehwag never changed his style even in challenging conditions. He took the attack to the Sri Lankan bowlers from the very first ball. Sehwag remains one of the most destructive openers India has ever produced. His record in Sri Lanka is proof of his class and dominance.
3. Shikhar Dhawan
Shikhar Dhawan scored 3 Test centuries against Sri Lanka. His hundreds came across two different tours. In 2015 he scored 134 at Galle. In 2017 he made a stunning comeback to the Test side by smashing 190 off just 168 balls at the same venue. He ended the 2017 series as the highest run getter with 358 runs. Dhawan was known for his aggressive stroke play and his ability to take the game away from the opposition in the first session. His love for batting in Sri Lanka was evident from his performances. He remains one of the most entertaining batsmen to watch.
4. Cheteshwar Pujara
Cheteshwar Pujara scored 3 Test centuries against Sri Lanka. He showcased his resilience and class during the 2015 and 2017 tours. In 2015 he scored 145 not out at Colombo SSC. In 2017 he followed it up with 153 at Galle and another 133 at Colombo SSC. His performances were instrumental in India’s dominant series victory. Pujara wore down bowling attacks with his solid defense and concentration.
5. Devdutt Padikkal
Devdutt Padikkal is the latest entrant to this elite list. He scored 2 Test centuries in the 2026 India vs Sri Lanka series. He scored 167 in the first Test at Galle and followed it up with 117 in the second Test at Colombo SSC. By amassing 328 runs in the series, he became the first visiting player to score two centuries while batting at number three in a two match Test series in Sri Lanka. He also became only the sixth Indian to score centuries in consecutive Tests in Sri Lanka. Padikkal made a sensational return to the Test side after nearly two years. His performances have announced his arrival on the big stage.
FAQs.
Q. Who has the most Test centuries against Sri Lanka?
A. Sachin Tendulkar leads with five centuries.
Q. How many centuries did Virender Sehwag score?
A. Sehwag scored three Test centuries against Sri Lanka.
Q. How many centuries has Devdutt Padikkal scored?
A. Padikkal has scored two centuries against Sri Lanka.
Q. How many runs did Padikkal score in 2026?
A. Padikkal scored 328 runs across the two Tests.
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