MS Dhoni and Rishabh Pant have once again given fans a glimpse of their close friendship, with a candid moment between the two wicketkeepers going viral on social media.
A video from a recent gathering shows Pant and Dhoni spending time with friends. In the clip, Pant can be seen sitting on a sofa while Dhoni stands with the rest of the group. When Pant calls out to him as “Mahi bhai” for another group photograph, Dhoni responds in his trademark relaxed manner.
Dhoni appears to return a ring that was reportedly Pant’s before telling him, “Jara hookah peeke aata hu.” The light-hearted exchange quickly caught the attention of fans online, with the clip being widely shared across social media platforms.
Dhoni and Pant Share Close Bond
Dhoni has played an important role in Pant’s cricketing journey, with the younger wicketkeeper-batter often speaking about the former India captain’s influence on him. The two shared the Indian dressing room for several years and have maintained a close relationship even outside cricket.
Pant has also sought Dhoni’s guidance during his career. Ahead of the Sri Lanka Test series, Pant travelled to Ranchi and trained alongside Dhoni. Shahbaz Nadeem and local net bowlers were also involved in the sessions, which included match-simulation drills designed to prepare Pant for the series.
Dhoni also recently attended Pant’s sister Sakshi Pant’s wedding festivities in Mussoorie along with his wife Sakshi. The occasion brought together several members of the Indian cricket fraternity, including India head coach Gautam Gambhir.
Pant’s Recent International Assignment
Pant was part of India’s squad for the recently concluded Test series against Sri Lanka. The Shubman Gill-led Indian side secured a 1-0 series victory after winning the opening Test in Galle, while the second match in Colombo ended in a draw. The wicketkeeper-batter made a significant contribution, scoring 168 runs in three innings at an average of 56.00, including two half-centuries.
Following the series, Pant was among the Indian players who underwent mandatory fitness assessments at the BCCI Centre of Excellence in Bengaluru. Ravindra Jadeja, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Shreyas Iyer, Rinku Singh, Sanju Samson and Ruturaj Gaikwad were among the other players who took part in the tests.
What’s Next for Rishabh Pant?
Pant was not selected for India’s three-match T20I series against Afghanistan, with Sanju Samson and Ishan Kishan chosen as the wicketkeeping options.
His place in the ODI squad for the upcoming home series against the West Indies also remains uncertain, with KL Rahul and Ishan Kishan featuring prominently in recent selections as India continues to build towards the 2027 ODI World Cup in South Africa, Zimbabwe and Namibia.
Pant is expected to return to the Test setup for India’s three-match series against New Zealand. The first Test is scheduled to begin at the Basin Reserve in Wellington on November 19.