Pant trains with MS Dhoni ahead of Sri Lanka Test series; photo goes viral

Young Indian wicketkeeper, Rishabh has started his preparations ahead of team India’s two-match test series against Sri Lanka. He had a training session with one of the best wicketkeepers in India and former team India captain, Mahendra Singh Dhonin Ranchi.

In a picture shared by former India spinner Shabaz Nadeem from a gym in Ranchi, Pant and MS Dhoni were seen training together. While Dhon was dressed in an all-blue tracksuit, Pant was wearing a black t-shirt and shorts in the picture. Sharing the picture on social media, Nadeeem wrote, “two of the best finishers of Indian cricket.”

Although Pant is currency out to India’s white-ball set-up, he continues to be a key part of the Indian test team which is led by another young captain Shubman Gill. The 28-year-old, Pant heads into Sri Lanka series after a forgettable IPL 2026 season where he captained Lucknow Super Giants. He scored 312 runs in the whole tournament at an average of 28.36 as his team finished last in the points table.

Pant last played a competitive match in Indian colours during India’s one-off test match against Afghanistan in June, earlier this year. Currently placed in the 5th position on the points table in the current World Test Championships table, India have little margin for error if they were to have any chance to qualify for the final. The team needs to win seven of their nine remaining test matches in the cycle to keep their hopes alive.

The upcoming series in Sri Lanka is therefore quite crucial for India and the team would like to register a 2-0 win before they travel down under to New Zealand, which is expected to be a far more challenging and difficult assignment.

Meanwhile, Dhoni failed to play a single match in the last season of IPL due to an injury concern. There are reports that the former Indian captain is now being considered for the mentorship role after CSK coach Stephen Fleming, after being at the helm of the team for 18 years, has finally departed as the head coach.

Having failed to qualify for the playoffs for the last three years since winning the IPL title in 2023, CSK is set to undergo a complete restructuring and Dhone is expected to be handed the overall control of cricket operations, irrespective of when he officially assumes the role.