Rishabh Pant Trains With MS Dhoni Ahead of Sri Lanka Test Series 2026

India wicketkeeper-batter Rishabh Pant has kickstarted preparations for the upcoming two-match Test series against Sri Lanka by training with former India captain MS Dhoni in Ranchi.

With the World Test Championship (WTC) campaign set to resume, Pant is expected to play a pivotal role in India's batting line-up as Shubman Gill-led Team India prepares for a challenging tour featuring spin-friendly conditions.

Key Highlights

• Rishabh Pant is training with MS Dhoni in Ranchi ahead of the Sri Lanka Tests.
• India will begin the two-match Test series on August 15.
• Pant is expected to be a key player in India's middle order during the WTC fixtures.
• Former India spinner Shahbaz Nadeem also joined the training sessions.
• Pant has recently worked with Yuvraj Singh to improve his white-ball game.

Pant Turns to Dhoni Before Crucial Sri Lanka Tour

Ahead of India's important Test assignment in Sri Lanka, Rishabh Pant has travelled to Ranchi to spend time training alongside one of India's greatest wicketkeeper-batters, MS Dhoni.

Videos circulating on social media showed Pant arriving at Dhoni's farmhouse and later participating in training sessions with the former captain. Former India left-arm spinner Shahbaz Nadeem was also present during the practice sessions.

The preparations come as India gets ready for two crucial World Test Championship matches on Sri Lankan soil.

Why This Training Camp Matters

Sri Lanka has traditionally offered conditions that heavily assist spin bowling, making preparation against slow bowlers essential for visiting batters.

Dhoni's vast experience playing and leading teams on subcontinental pitches makes his guidance particularly valuable for Pant, who has often credited the former captain for mentoring him throughout his international career.

The training sessions are expected to help Pant refine his batting approach while also sharpening his wicketkeeping skills before the challenging Test series.

Pant Looking to Bounce Back

The Sri Lanka series also represents an opportunity for Pant to regain top form after a disappointing outing in India's recent home Test series against South Africa.

As one of India's most experienced middle-order batters, Pant's ability to counter spin and accelerate scoring could prove vital during the World Test Championship fixtures.

The team management will hope he rediscovers his match-winning rhythm during the tour.

White-Ball Preparation Under Yuvraj Singh

In addition to his red-ball preparations, Pant has also been working extensively on his limited-overs game.

The wicketkeeper-batter recently trained under former India all-rounder Yuvraj Singh as part of his efforts to improve his performances across all three formats of the game.

The combination of guidance from Yuvraj and Dhoni highlights Pant's commitment to refining different aspects of his game ahead of a busy international season.

India's Squad for Sri Lanka Test Series

India have named a balanced squad for the two-match Test series.

India Squad:

• Shubman Gill (Captain)
• KL Rahul (Vice-Captain)
• Yashasvi Jaiswal
• Rishabh Pant (Wicketkeeper)
• Sai Sudharsan
• Dhruv Jurel (Wicketkeeper)
• Ravindra Jadeja
• Kuldeep Yadav
• Manav Suthar
• Auqib Nabi
• Mohammed Siraj
• Prasidh Krishna
• Gurnoor Brar
• Devdutt Padikkal
• Saransh Jain

Why This Matters

India's upcoming tour of Sri Lanka marks an important phase in the team's World Test Championship campaign.

With spin expected to dominate proceedings, Rishabh Pant's performance with both bat and gloves could significantly influence India's chances of securing valuable WTC points.

Training alongside one of India's most successful wicketkeeper-captains reflects Pant's focus on entering the series fully prepared.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. Why is Rishabh Pant training with MS Dhoni?

Pant is preparing for India's two-match Test series against Sri Lanka and is training with MS Dhoni to improve his batting and wicketkeeping before the WTC fixtures.

2. When does India's Test series against Sri Lanka begin?

The first Test is scheduled to begin on August 15, 2026.

3. Who else attended the Ranchi training sessions?

Former India spinner Shahbaz Nadeem was also part of the training sessions.

4. Has Rishabh Pant trained with anyone else recently?

Yes. Pant has also been working with former India all-rounder Yuvraj Singh to improve his white-ball game.

5. Who is leading India in the Sri Lanka Test series?

Shubman Gill will captain India, while KL Rahul has been named vice-captain.