India, Aug. 15 -- A maiden, unbeaten hundred from Devdutt Padikkal gave India early control of the first Test against Sri Lanka in Galle, the visitors ending a rain-hit first day on 288/2.

Padikkal, batting on 131, reached three figures from 134 balls in an innings built less on brute force and more on a clear understanding of where Sri Lanka could be hurt. KL Rahul gave him steady company before retiring on 77 after tea because of cramp, after Yashasvi Jaiswal had looked fluent in his 37-ball 32 until his run out.

At stumps, Rishabh Pant was at the other end on 27.

It had been 19 Tests since an India No.3 scored a hundred, with 11 different batters tried in the crucial position. Padikkal's innings may have finally given India a candid...