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Devdutt Padikkal produced a major response for India A on Monday, October 26, scoring his 12th first-class century in the first unofficial Test against New Zealand A at Bert Sutcliffe Oval in Lincoln. Reaching three figures in 128 balls, Padikkal moved beyond 150 to record his highest first-class score for India A and help the visitors recover after a difficult start to the match.
The innings came at a crucial point for India A, who had been dismissed for just 113 in their first innings and conceded 317 to New Zealand A. Padikkal’s partnership with Sai Sudharsan became the foundation of the response, with the pair putting on 215 runs for the third wicket after the openers were dismissed early for the second time in the match.
India A resumed the third day at 106 for two, with Padikkal unbeaten on 56. He accelerated through the morning and reached his hundred with a six, completing the milestone from 128 deliveries. The left-hander continued beyond 150, converting a recovery innings into his highest first-class score for the India A side.
The century was Padikkal’s 12th in first-class cricket and his third for India A across 16 appearances, according to The Indian Express. He also passed 1,000 first-class runs for India A during the knock, another marker of his growing body of work in the representative side.
Padikkal’s response was particularly notable because he had made 32 in the first innings, when India A were bowled out for 113 in 39.3 overs. That innings had been one of the few contributions from the specialist batters on a surface where New Zealand A’s seamers made regular inroads. His second-innings century offered a sharp contrast and gave India A a route back into the contest.
Sai Sudharsan played a key role in the stand, scoring 92 before falling short of a century. The pair added 215 for the third wicket, a partnership that followed the dismissals of Yashasvi Jaiswal and KL Rahul early in the innings. India A had been reduced to 10 for two, repeating the early trouble that had undermined their first innings.
The stand was built on a mix of patience and scoring opportunities. Padikkal provided the innings’ major acceleration, while Sudharsan remained with him long enough to turn a precarious position into a substantial partnership. Sudharsan’s 92 was also a significant contribution after he had been dismissed for a duck in the first innings.
New Zealand A’s first-innings total of 317 gave the hosts a 204-run lead after India A’s 113 all out. Captain Rhys Mariu led the home side with 76, while Dean Foxcroft made 51. India A’s bowlers did take wickets, with Anshul Kamboj claiming three for 52 and Auqib Nabi taking three for 69, but New Zealand A built a large advantage before being dismissed.
The first innings had been especially challenging for India A’s top order. Simon Keene took five wickets for 24 runs, while Zak Gibson claimed three for 29. Padikkal’s 32 was a useful contribution in that collapse, but the team still needed a much larger effort in the second innings to make the match competitive.
Padikkal entered the New Zealand tour after an uneven run against Australia A in Puducherry, including three runs across three List A matches and one half-century in two first-class innings. The Indian Express also noted that he had been among India’s standout performers during the August tour of Sri Lanka, where he scored three centuries. The New Zealand innings adds another substantial performance to that record.
For India A, the innings matters beyond the personal milestone. A strong response after a 204-run first-innings deficit tests the resilience of a batting group and gives players a chance to demonstrate how they adapt after early failures. Padikkal’s ability to continue beyond 150, backed by Sudharsan’s 92, provided the side with a platform after two early wickets had again put pressure on the middle order.
The match remains an important opportunity for India’s touring players to build form in longer-format conditions. Padikkal’s century and his milestone of passing 1,000 first-class runs for India A were the standout individual achievements from the recovery described in the match report.
