Pant Trains With Dhoni Ahead of Sri Lanka Test Series

India’s wicketkeeper-batter Rishabh Pant has kicked off preparations for the two-match Test series in Sri Lanka, working closely with former captain MS Dhoni. India begin their World Test Championship assignment on August 15, and Pant is tipped to play a vital role in the middle order as Shubman Gill’s side takes on a spin-heavy challenge away from home.

Training in Ranchi

Pant has travelled to Ranchi to train alongside Dhoni and former India spinner Shahbaz Nadeem, focusing on skills suited to turning tracks. Social media clips have shown the pair leaving Dhoni’s farmhouse together, with fans also sharing snippets from their practice sessions. Dhoni is widely seen as one of the sharpest readers of spin and wicketkeeping conditions in the subcontinent, and Pant has long leaned on his guidance.

A Fresh Start After a Rough Series

The timing matters for Pant, who struggled during India’s recent home Test series against South Africa. With Sri Lankan pitches expected to assist spin bowlers heavily, this training stint could prove crucial in helping him rebuild form before the series gets underway. He has also been sharpening his white-ball skills recently under former all-rounder Yuvraj Singh, as he works to find consistency across formats.

India’s Test squad for the tour features Shubman Gill as captain and KL Rahul as vice-captain, with Pant among two designated wicketkeepers alongside Dhruv Jurel. Ravindra Jadeja, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Siraj and Yashasvi Jaiswal are also part of the squad as India look to navigate a tough spin-friendly assignment in Sri Lanka.