Rishabh Pant Spotted Training with MS Dhoni Before India vs Sri Lanka Tests: The Indian cricket team is set to tour Sri Lanka soon for a two-match Test series, which begins on August 15. Star wicketkeeper-batsman Rishabh Pant, who has been out of the limited-overs (ODI and T20) squads, is making his return to international cricket through this Test series.
However, just before flying out for the Sri Lanka tour, Pant has grabbed headlines for a special reason—he was spotted sweating it out alongside former Indian captain and legendary wicketkeeper MS Dhoni!
Rishabh Pant and MS Dhoni Gym Training Photo
Amidst preparations for the Sri Lanka tour, Rishabh Pant visited Ranchi, where he spent time training with MS Dhoni. Former Indian spinner Shahbaz Nadeem shared a photo featuring himself with Dhoni and Pant on his Instagram account.
The photo was taken at a gym in Ranchi, showing:
- MS Dhoni: Seen wearing a cool blue tracksuit.
- Rishabh Pant: Seen smiling after a fitness session, dressed in a black T-shirt and shorts.
Sharing the photo, Nadeem added a heartwarming caption: “Two of Indian cricket’s best finishers.”
The photo went viral instantly on social media, giving fans another glimpse of the enduring bond between these two legends of wicketkeeping and finishing.
Rishabh Pant Test Comeback: Stats and Recent Form Before Sri Lanka Tour
The recent past has been a journey of ups and downs for Rishabh Pant.
You might be surprised to learn that Pant has played only one international match so far in 2026.
- Last Test: He played his last Test match against Afghanistan, where he scored a magnificent 81 runs in one of the innings.
- T20s and ODIs: He has been out of the limited-overs formats since 2024.
Given this, the Test series against Sri Lanka presents a massive opportunity for Pant to re-establish himself in red-ball cricket.
India vs Sri Lanka Playing 11: Rishabh Pant vs Dhruv Jurel 
Young wicketkeeper Dhruv Jurel has been included alongside Rishabh Pant in the Indian Test squad announced for the Sri Lanka tour.
Now, the biggest question is: whom will the captain and team management choose for the playing XI?
- Will Pant get a direct entry into the playing XI?
- Or will preference be given to Dhruv Jurel, who has performed brilliantly in recent times?
- Could both players find a spot in the playing XI together (one as a batsman and the other as a wicketkeeper)?
It will certainly be interesting to see how this unfolds.
Rishabh Pant IPL 2026 Trade: Leaving LSG to Rejoin Delhi Capitals for INR 15 Crore
The IPL 2026 season was not particularly remarkable for Rishabh Pant either. While captaining the Lucknow Super Giants (LSG), he scored only 312 runs in 14 matches, and the team failed to qualify for the playoffs under his leadership.
Following this disappointing performance, Pant made some major decisions:
- First, he stepped down as the captain of the Lucknow Super Giants.
- Subsequently, he returned to his former franchise, Delhi Capitals, for ₹15 crore as part of a major all-cash/player trade deal.
- As part of this trade deal, star ‘chinaman’ bowler Kuldeep Yadav has moved from Delhi to the Lucknow team.
Also Read: Ben Stokes Test Comeback: Will He Return for The Ashes?
