India wicketkeeper-batter Rishabh Pant has started preparing for the upcoming two-match Test series against Sri Lanka under the guidance of former India captain MS Dhoni.
India will tour Sri Lanka for two World Test Championship matches, with the opening Test scheduled to begin on August 15. Pant is expected to play a key role in the middle order as Shubman Gill's team aims to tackle the spin-friendly conditions.
Pant has travelled to Ranchi, where he is training with Dhoni and former India spinner Shahbaz Nadeem. Videos shared on social media showed Pant and Dhoni leaving the former captain's farmhouse together, while fans also posted clips from their practice sessions.
The Sri Lanka series comes at a crucial stage for Pant, who struggled during India's recent home Test series against South Africa. With Sri Lankan pitches expected to assist spin, the left-hander will be looking to sharpen his game during the training sessions with Dhoni ahead of the two-match series.
Dhoni, regarded as one of India's best readers of spin bowling and subcontinental wicketkeeping conditions, has often mentored Pant over the years. The two share a close relationship, and Pant has frequently sought the former captain's advice.
In recent weeks, Pant has also been working on his white-ball batting with former India all-rounder Yuvraj Singh as he looks to regain top form across all formats.
India's updated squad for Sri Lanka Tests
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 and Saransh Jain.
