[Watch] Rishabh Pant poses with young fan ahead of 1st IND vs SL ODI
Team India wicketkeeper-batter Rishabh Pant made a young boy's day on the sidelines during his side's final training session ahead of the first ODI against Sri Lanka. The two sides will square off in a three-match ODI series, starting on Friday, August 2, in Colombo.
After a grueling net session, Pant was seen interacting with a young supporter on his way back to the dressing room. He happily spoke to the fan and also posed for a couple of photographs before walking up the stairs to the changing room.
Watch the clip here:
Rishabh Pant made his international return during the 2024 T20 World Cup after a long injury layoff. He was also part of the recently concluded three-match T20I series against Sri Lanka.
The left-handed batter played a vital knock of 49 runs in the first match and followed it with an unbeaten two in a rain-marred contest. With the series done and dusted, Pant was rested in the final game of the three-match affair. The Men in Blue continued their dominance and inflicted a whitewash to win the series 3-0.
"I'm sure the team is heading in the right direction" - Rohit Sharma on India's T20 side
Rohit Sharma bid farewell to the shortest format of the game after guiding Team India to the 2024 T20 World Cup title in the West Indies and the USA. Along with him, senior cricketers Virat Kohli and Ravindra Jadeja also announced their T20I retirements.
With the team going through a transition under the new support staff, the young Men in Blue cricketers played a good brand of cricket. Rohit was also content with how the team played against the Island nation.
"It's definitely a good start for them in that format," Rohit told reporters on the eve of the match. "They played really well, played well as a unit which was really good and that is what Team India is all about, playing together as a team. And I'm sure the team is heading in the right direction."
The first ODI between India and Sri Lanka will be Rohit's first 50-over game since the 2023 ODI World Cup final defeat to Australia in Ahmedabad.