Cricket
oi-Gaurav Sharma
With India’s two-match Test series against Sri Lanka just around the corner, wicketkeeper-batter Rishabh Pant has sought the guidance of one of the country’s greatest cricketing minds-former captain MS Dhoni.
Pant has been training in Ranchi with Dhoni ahead of the World Test Championship fixtures, which begin on August 15. The sessions come at a crucial time, as India prepare to face conditions expected to heavily assist spin bowlers.
Indian cricketer Rishabh Pant trained with former captain MS Dhoni in Ranchi ahead of the Test series against Sri Lanka starting August 15, aiming to prepare for spin-assisting conditions.
Videos of Pant and Dhoni spending time together have gone viral on social media, with one clip showing the pair leaving Dhoni’s farmhouse after a practice session. Also joining the training was former India left-arm spinner Shahbaz Nadeem, giving Pant additional exposure to quality spin ahead of the series.
The Sri Lanka tour represents an important opportunity for Pant to rediscover his rhythm after a disappointing Test series against South Africa at home. As one of India’s most experienced batters in the current squad, the left-hander will be expected to anchor the middle order under captain Shubman Gill.
Dhoni’s understanding of batting and wicketkeeping in subcontinental conditions is expected to be invaluable. Having played countless matches on turning tracks, the former captain has often shared tactical insights with younger players, and Pant is looking to benefit from that experience before the challenging assignment.
The wicketkeeper has also been working on other aspects of his game. In recent weeks, he trained with former India all-rounder Yuvraj Singh to improve his white-ball skills, reflecting his focus on regaining consistency across all formats.
India squad for Sri Lanka Tests
Captain: Shubman Gill
Vice-captain: KL Rahul
Squad: Yashasvi Jaiswal, Rishabh Pant (WK), Sai Sudharsan, Dhruv Jurel (WK), Ravindra Jadeja, Kuldeep Yadav, Manav Suthar, Auqib Nabi, Mohammed Siraj, Prasidh Krishna, Gurnoor Brar, Devdutt Padikkal and Saransh Jain.
