Former India spinner Shahbaz Nadeem gave fans a glimpse of Rishabh Pant's preparations for the upcoming two-match Test series against Sri Lanka by sharing a picture with the wicketkeeper-batter and MS Dhoni from a gym session in Ranchi on Friday.
Nadeem, who represented India in two Test matches during his career, captioned the post: "Two of the best finishers of Indian cricket." The picture showed Pant training alongside former India captain Dhoni as he continued his preparations ahead of the Sri Lanka tour.
Pant and Dhoni have shared a close bond for several years, both on and off the field. They often celebrate festivals and special occasions together, while Dhoni was also present throughout the celebrations during Pant's sister's wedding last year. Pant has previously revealed that Dhoni is the only person in his life with whom he can share anything.
The 28-year-old will now be aiming to make a strong comeback in the upcoming Test series against Sri Lanka after a disappointing IPL 2026 campaign and losing his place in India's ODI and T20I squads. Apart from his batting, Pant will also face a stern challenge behind the stumps, with wicketkeeping expected to be demanding on Sri Lanka's spin-friendly pitches.
Dhoni's future with CSK remains under the spotlight
MS Dhoni could not play any match in the IPL 2026 with injuries that just wouldn’t clear up. He still hasn’t said a word about retirement, but missing an entire season has only made people wonder how much longer he’ll keep playing.
As per reports from RevSportz, MS Dhoni might be moving into a mentoring role at Chennai Super Kings after Stephen Fleming steps down as coach. If that happens, it could be the quiet end of his playing days, but it would also keep him right in the middle of the franchise he’s built into a five-time champion.
The same report says CSK are looking at a bigger overhaul. They haven’t made the playoffs in three straight seasons since lifting the trophy in 2023, and the plan, apparently, is to give Dhoni full charge of the cricket side of things whenever he takes on the new job.
Nothing has been confirmed by Dhoni or the franchise yet. Still, if it does go through, the man who has defined CSK for so long stays at the centre of their future even if he never walks out to bat for them again.
