India wicketkeeper-batter Rishabh Pant has begun preparations for the upcoming two-Test series against Sri Lanka, with the left-hander training alongside former India captain MS Dhoni in Ranchi. As Team India gears up for another crucial assignment in the ICC World Test Championship cycle, Pant appears focused on fine-tuning his game ahead of the challenging tour.
India’s tour of Sri Lanka begins on August 15, with the opening Test scheduled to be played at the Galle International Stadium from August 15 to 19. The second and final Test will take place at the Sinhalese Sports Club in Colombo from August 23 to 27.
Former India spinner Shahbaz Nadeem offered fans a glimpse of the training session by sharing a picture on Instagram featuring himself, Dhoni and Pant inside a gym. The post quickly caught the attention of cricket fans, with Nadeem captioning it: “Two of the best finishers of Indian cricket @rishabpant and @mahi7781 bhai.”
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Pant heads into the Sri Lanka series as India’s first-choice wicketkeeper-batter in the longest format. Known for his fearless stroke play and ability to change the course of a match, the 28-year-old is expected to play a pivotal role in India’s batting lineup on spin-friendly Sri Lankan pitches.
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The Delhi cricketer last appeared in competitive cricket during India’s one-off Test against Afghanistan in June 2026. Batting with his usual attacking approach, Pant scored a valuable half-century in the first innings and once again showcased why he remains one of India’s biggest match-winners in Test cricket.
Pant has built an outstanding red-ball career since making his debut, scoring 3,557 runs in 50 Tests at an impressive rate. His tally includes eight centuries and 19 half-centuries, making him the Indian wicketkeeper with the most Test hundreds.
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The upcoming Sri Lanka series also presents Pant with a major personal milestone. He is just three sixes away from becoming the first Indian batter to smash 100 sixes in Test cricket. Only Adam Gilchrist, Brendon McCullum and Ben Stokes have previously crossed the 100-sixes mark in the format, allowing Pant to join an elite list if he achieves the feat during the two-match series.
