Indian top-order batter Devdutt Padikkal, who scored an impressive 167-run knock off 230 balls in the ongoing first Test against Sri Lanka in Galle, has shared his views on his daddy century after the end of the second day’s play.
Speaking to the broadcaster Sony Sports Network after the end of the second day’s play, Padikkal credited former Karnataka cricketers behind his marathon knock, adding that the 20-30 balls after scoring a century are a really important phase.
“I think, honestly, it’s just the hunger to score more runs. I just enjoy batting out there and the moment you get to hundred, it’s easy to relax and feel that relief. But for me, the next 20-30 balls are a really important phase that I try and make sure that I’m completely focused, completely there,” Padikkal told Sony Sports Network after the second day’s play.
“I think when I get past those first ten balls after [getting to my] hundred, I think it makes my job a whole lot easier. And over the years, I’ve seen so many cricketers get big runs, get big hundreds, especially back in Karnataka, so just watching them bat makes me want to do the same,” he added.
Also, Padikkal has revealed that the surface isn’t offering a lot of turn at the moment. However, according to him, the red-ball is expected to turn a lot in another couple of sessions.
“Not [turning] a whole lot more. I think it will take probably another couple of sessions for [the pitch] to really start breaking up. But I think we know that in Galle, especially, it tends to quicken up pretty fast on the third and fourth day, so we are expecting that to happen again. Hopefully, it will help our bowlers as well,” he concluded.
