Devdutt Padikkal Becomes First Indian Batter To Score Century on India's Independence Day

Devdutt Padikkal has delivered a truly memorable performance for India on a historic day, striking his maiden Test century against Sri Lanka at the Galle International Stadium on Thursday, August 15, 2026. The 26-year-old left-hander's magnificent 134-ball hundred arrived on India's 80th Independence Day, making him the first Indian batter to achieve a Test century on this significant national holiday. Devdutt Padikkal Slams Maiden International Hundred For India, Achieves Feat During IND vs SL 1st Test 2026.

Devdutt Padikkal Creates History

The 𝗢𝗡𝗟𝗬 Indian to score a century on Independence Day. 𝗜𝗰𝗼𝗻𝗶𝗰. 🤌🇮🇳💙

📸: Sony LIV | #PlayBold #ನಮ್ಮRCB #SLvIND pic.twitter.com/jrSEbtzWet

— Royal Challengers Bengaluru (@RCBTweets) August 15, 2026

Padikkal's impressive knock, a blend of elegant stroke play and resolute defence, has been pivotal in solidifying India's command in the first Test of the two-match series. The series is a crucial part of the 2025-27 ICC World Test Championship (WTC) cycle, with India aiming to improve their current fifth-place standing.

Interestingly, Padikkal's RCB teammate Virat Kohli (116, 213 balls, 11x4, 1x6) remains the only Indian cricketer to score an international century on Republic Day. It was also his maiden Test century, standing as India's only individual hundred across a difficult 0–4 series defeat.

Devdutt Padikkal's Rise to Stardom

Born on July 7, 2000, in Edappal, Kerala, Padikkal made his Test debut for India in March 2024 against England, where he impressed with a solid 65-run contribution in his maiden innings. His journey to the Test arena has seen him consistently perform in domestic cricket for Karnataka and in the Indian Premier League for various franchises, currently representing Royal Challengers Bengaluru. Today's century in Galle is a testament to his burgeoning talent and composure under pressure on the biggest stage.

Match Details and Context

The 1st Test between India and Sri Lanka commenced today, August 15, 2026, at 10:00 AM IST at the iconic Galle International Stadium. This two-match series is vital for both teams' WTC aspirations. India, led by captain Shubman Gill, entered the series with a superior head-to-head Test record against Sri Lanka, having won 22 of their 46 encounters, with Sri Lanka securing 7 victories and 17 matches ending in a draw. Independence Day 2026: Gautam Gambhir, Shubman Gill and Team India Members Hoist Tricolour in Galle Ahead of IND vs SL 1st Test.

India's Squad for the Sri Lanka Test Series:

• Shubman Gill (Captain)
• KL Rahul (Vice-Captain)
• Yashasvi Jaiswal
• Devdutt Padikkal
• Rishabh Pant (Wicketkeeper)
• Dhruv Jurel (Wicketkeeper)
• Ravindra Jadeja
• Kuldeep Yadav
• Manav Suthar
• Mohammed Siraj
• Prasidh Krishna
• Gurnoor Brar
• Sarfaraz Khan
• Saransh Jain
• Auqib Nabi

Sri Lanka's Squad for the India Test Series:

• Dhananjaya De Silva (Captain)
• Lahiru Udara
• Nishan Madushka
• Kamindu Mendis
• Dinesh Chandimal
• Pasindu Sooriyabandara
• Sonal Dinusha
• Niroshan Dickwella (Wicketkeeper)
• Ramesh Mendis
• Prabath Jayasuriya
• Keshara Nuwantha
• Milan Rathnayake
• Asitha Fernando
• Lahiru Kumara
• Vishwa Fernando
• Dilshan Madushanka

Padikkal's century on Independence Day will undoubtedly be remembered as a special moment in Indian cricket, setting a high benchmark for the remainder of this crucial Test series. His performance has given India a strong platform to push for a victory in Galle, bolstering their World Test Championship campaign.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Aug 15, 2026 07:18 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).