A few days after a viral video featuring MS Dhoni and Rishabh Pant, Pant opened up about Dhoni’s influence in his professional cricket career. The keeper-batter of the Indian Test team explained how the words of wisdom from the former India captain, MS Dhoni, have been useful in shaping his cricket career.
Rishabh Pant is considered one of the most exciting talents in world cricket, whose career has gone through a lot of highs and lows. The southpaw had to deal with multiple injuries, a life-threatening car accident, and inconsistency with his batting. Despite all the events, Dhoni’s advice remains with him all the way.
The influence of MS Dhoni over Rishabh Pant
In his latest appearance on a Business of Sports podcast, Rishabh Pant discussed his life before and after the life-threatening accident in 2022. The keeper-batter admitted that the event had a massive impact on his career and shaped him to become a more sensible human being on and off the field. But the developments and upgrades he has made in his career so far would not be possible without the contributions of MS Dhoni.
MS Dhoni was not only the leader and a designated finisher for the India National Cricket Team during his time, but also used to be one of the best keepers around the world. A season ago, during the IPL 2025 season with the Chennai Super Kings (CSK), there were some glimpses of Dhoni’s greatness as he still had lightning-fast hands with the keeping gloves on.
Rishabh Pant shares priceless advice he got from MS Dhoni
Dhoni continues to be one of the most influential keeper-batters, as the younger players tried to replicate the former Indian cricketer’s style to dismantle the batters’ stumps. Pant is no exception. The 28-year-old, who has so far completed 30 stumpings, including 18 in Tests, 11 in T20Is and one in ODIs, follows the path pointed out by MS Dhoni.
Speaking on the podcast, the Haridwar-born shared advice he received from the former Indian cricketer. According to Rishabh Pant, Dhoni said that the duration of a career completely depends on that particular career.
“Do you want to have success for one or two years, or do you want to make your career for like 15 to 20 years? It’s up to you”, this was the suggestion Pant received from Mahendra Singh Dhoni.
Keeping quiet is also good: Rishabh Pant
Pant confessed that when he was young, he was never able to think like that. As soon as he heard that from Dhoni, it struck him, and still, to this day, he follows the advice. In the conversation, he also shared how Dhoni helped him to maintain a persona in public after becoming a star in Indian cricket.
“He (MS Dhoni) taught me that keeping quiet is also good. So I’m working on that because I want to feel free,” Pant said in the discussion.
As of now, Pant is required to make a strong statement with his performance, as he is not in India’s ODI and T20I teams.