India are currently taking on Sri Lanka in the first Test of the two-match Test Series at the Galle International Cricket Stadium. The team have been impressive on Day 1, with the batting unit putting on a total of 288/2 at Stumps. KL Rahul was playing well in the match, and wqas on course to score a hundred, but returned to the dressing room after scoring 77. However, he was not dismissed, but to the worry of fans all around, was retired hurt, after he looked in extreme pain. Now, batting coach Sitanshu Kotak has shared an update that will calm fans down.

Speaking in the press conference after the match got over, Sitanshu Kotak said that KL Rahul was only getting cramps, and he was fine by the end of the day. He will be good to bat on Day 2.

“KL batted really well. I think he was getting only cramps. So by the end of the day, he was fine. Probably once you start getting cramps, you get it in the hamstring, you get it in the groin, you get it in your hand. But at the moment he looks absolutely fine. So he should be good to go tomorrow,” Kotak said.

Sitanshu Kotak also was all praise for KL Rahul, especially because of his versatitly to play in all formats, and bat anywhere in the lineup.

“See, he is someone, when he plays in one-day (match), as if you have seen him, he bats at number 6 or 5. So when you are a senior batsman, and if you are open to bat at any number and help the team, I think that is a great player to have. So for a team, he is very useful. In a red-ball match, he opens; in a one-day match, he bats wherever required. Now, the way he is batting, he is taking a lot of responsibility; he is trying to create a lot of partnerships, and that is something really good to have, and he has been very, very consistent,” the Indian batting coach added.

Devdutt Padikkal scored his maiden Test century to guide India to 288 for 2 at stumps on a rain-interrupted opening day of the first Test against Sri Lanka.

Padikkal remained unbeaten on 131 off 178 deliveries, hitting 12 boundaries and a six, after captain Shubman Gill won the toss and elected to bat first. Rishabh Pant was not out on the end of the day’s play that was disrupted multiple times by rain and bad light.

Opener Yashasvi Jaiswal fell early, run out for 32, while Gill was dismissed for 16, caught off the bowling of left-arm spinner Prabath Jayasuriya (1-77). However, Padikkal and KL Rahul firmly shifted the momentum with a 150-run partnership for the third wicket.

Rahul scored a fluent 77 from 162 balls but was forced to retire hurt in the final session after suffering severe cramps in his arm.

His departure brought Pant to the crease, who scored at a brisk pace, adding an unbroken 52-run stand with Padikkal before stumps were called.