India, Aug. 15 -- Devdutt Padikkal turned an opportunity born out of injury into a record-breaking statement on Saturday, scoring his maiden Test century as India seized control of the opening Test against Sri Lanka in Galle. Playing only his third Test and returning to the side after a gap of nearly two years, Padikkal remained unbeaten on 131 off 178 balls as India closed a rain-interrupted opening day on 288 for two in 73 overs. His innings, studded with 12 fours and a six, came on an already significant occasion - August 15 and India's 600th Test match.

Padikkal had been brought into the XI after incumbent No. 3 Sai Sudharsan was ruled out through injury. It was the sort of opening that can alter the trajectory of a Test career, and ...