Colombo, Aug. 15 -- - Some Test hundreds merely add runs to a scorecard. Some quietly open a door into history.
Devdutt Padikkal's century against Sri Lanka on Saturday did both.
The left-handed Indian batsman walked into a select club by becoming only the second Indian left-hander in the 21st century to score a Test hundred from No.3, following in the footsteps of Sourav Ganguly, who made 136 against Zimbabwe in Delhi in 2002.
It is a position that has carried considerable weight in Indian Test cricket - close enough to the new ball to demand technique, yet important enough to set the tone for the middle order.
Padikkal handled the challenge with the assurance of a batsman who knew the occasion could become bigger than the innings itse...