When crowd chanted ‘Dhoni, Dhoni’, Rishabh Pant used to CRY in his room and ‘couldn’t breathe’ due to stress

A young Pant used to don the gloves in T20Is when Dhoni was in the twilight of his career.

When crowd chanted ‘Dhoni, Dhoni’, Rishabh Pant used to CRY in his room and ‘couldn’t breathe’ due to stress

MS Dhoni, Rishabh Pant (Images via NDTV)

Rishabh Pant is expected to make his return to cricket in the 2024 Indian Premier League (IPL). Since the life-threatening car crash in December 2022, Pant has not participated in any cricket matches and is currently recuperating from the injuries.

When he joined Team India and did wicket-keeping, he dealt with a lot of stress, all due to MS Dhoni, with whom the 26-year-old shares a great bond on and off the field. A young Pant used to don the gloves in T20Is when Dhoni was in the twilight of his career.

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Dhoni, the team management, and the selectors knew that Pant would don the wicketkeeping gloves after Captain Cool. But not the fans because it was hard for them to move on from Dhoni and, as a result, Pant had to hear ‘Dhoni, Dhoni‘ chants, and the comparison used to hurt him at that time.

I used to really feel very bad. I used to go back to my room and cry at 20–21 years of age. Under stress, I couldn't breathe. So much pressure and I didn't know what to do. I missed a stumping in Mohali, and the crowd started to chant, 'Dhoni, Dhoni'.
Pant said on Star Sports

Dhoni, even though he doesn’t spend much time with his teammates off the field, has been spotted with Pant on many occasions, including on birthdays. Pant also said that he discusses everything with Dhoni, even those things he wouldn’t discuss with anyone else.

Rishabh Pant reminisces about his Team India debut

While recounting the car accident horror, Rishabh Pant also reminisced about the time when he made his Team India debut. He joined the national team after performing brilliantly in the 2016 U-19 World Cup.

Rishabh Pant
Rishabh Pant (Image via NDTV)

Then in 2017, he earned his call-up for India. India played against England in a T20I match in Bengaluru.

That moment left him in awe, Pant narrated. He added that the “super seniors” were welcoming him and made him comfortable, and lauded the team environment, which made everyone comfortable.

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