Poll | Should Dhoni give up captaincy to regain his batting form?

As India bid to level the five-match series against South Africa in the second ODI at Indore on Wednesday, the spotlight will be on skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni, who is facing a crisis of sorts for the first time in his decade-long career.

As India bid to level the five-match series against South Africa in the second ODI at Indore on Wednesday, the spotlight will be on skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni, who is facing a crisis of sorts for the first time in his decade-long career.

Indian cricket captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni during a practice session in Kanpur on October 10, 2015. (AP Photo)

Read | Ahead of 2nd India-SA ODI, cool finisher Dhoni faces the heat

Having already given up Test cricket, the 34-year-old Dhoni’s ability to make an impact in the shorter formats is increasingly under question. In the team’s five-run loss to the Proteas in Kanpur on Sunday, with India needing 11 off the final over to win, Dhoni spooned a simple return catch to young pacer Kagiso Rabada to seal South Africa’s win. The Dhoni of old would simply have smashed Rabada’s short delivery over midwicket for six.

Dhoni appears to be under a lot of pressure and seems hesitant to go for the big shots in the early part of his innings.