With critics gunning for his head, 'Captain Cool' finds himself in a very challenging situation.
Facing one of the toughest phases of his cricketing life, an under-fire Mahendra Singh Dhoni will seek to revive his career and change the fortunes of a dispirited Indian team against South Africa in the second One-dayer in Indore on Wednesday.
Why Holkar Stadium can turn around series for India...
Is Dhoni the 'finisher' finished?
India are yet to taste victory since the South African team's arrival in the country, having lost two Twenty20 Internationals (the third one was abandoned) before suffering a close five-run defeat in the first ODI.
Dhoni, in particular, is in a spot. The year 2015 hasn't been a happy one for him after the semi-final loss in the World Cup.
The loss in the IPL final was followed by humiliation in Bangladesh in the ODI series, and the T20Is against the Proteas proved to be yet another no-contest.
His own form too is patchy and 'Dhoni the batsman' evidently does not strike fear in the hearts of bowlers any more.
It seems Dhoni, the ultimate finisher, has lost somewhere.
In the first ODI in Kanpur, it was an ideal platform for India's skipper to get back at his critics but he faltered in the botched chase.
With India needing 11 runs off the last over, the stage was set for him to it finish off, just as he had done many a time in the past, but he seemed to have lost his big-hitting skills and turned more into an accumulator.
During his 30-ball 31, he struck just one boundary.
With the World T20 not too far away, time seems to be running out for Dhoni, the man once considered indispensable in the limited-overs' formats.
Come Wednesday, the spotlight will be on him and his leadership skills. The remaining four matches of the ODI series will be a test of character for him.
India's batting line-up, though, is formidable, with opener Rohit Sharma in rollicking form. After the sublime ton in the first T20I in Dharamsala, the Mumbai batsman struck a delightful 150 in the lost cause in the Kanpur ODI.
But his opening partner Shikhar Dhawan's form is cause for concern. He will be looking for a bagful of runs after failing in the T20s and then the first ODI.
Returning to the side, Ajinkya Rahane, however, proved his worth with a vital 60 in Kanpur and will be looking to carry forward the momentum.
But Dhoni’s heir apparent, Virat Kohli, will be hoping for runs and going by his lofty standards would like to take on the challenge against tough opponents like the Proteas to stamp his class once again.
Serious questions marks are also on Suresh Raina and the abilities of Stuart Binny as an all-rounder.
But what must be worrying Dhoni, the captain, most is the performance of his bowlers and the absence of his 'go to man' Ravichandran Ashwin, who is effectively ruled out of the series with a side strain suffered during the Kanpur match.
The pace duo of Bhuvneshwar Kumar and comeback man Umesh Yadav looked ordinary in front of AB de Villiers and Co, while Binny failed to prove his worth with the ball as well.
De Villiers, who powered South Africa past the 300-run mark in Kanpur with a 73-ball unbeaten 104, went hammer and tongs as India's bowlers bled more than 100 runs in the last 10 overs in the first ODI.
The only saving grace for Dhoni and India was the spin duo of Ashwin and leggie Amit Mishra's showing.
However, with Ashwin now out for at least the first three ODIs, this department too could take a severe beating.
Ashwin’s place in the playing eleven is likely to taken by veteran Harbhajan Singh.
South Africa, on the other hand, are a confident lot and eyeing their first-ever ODI series win on Indian soil.
Their bowling attack looks ominous with the return of speedsters Morne Morkel and Dale Steyn, who were rested for the matches in the shortest format.
Young Kagiso Rabada, who impressed in the T20s, proved he belongs to the big stage by keeping a cool head in defending the total in the final over in Kanpur.
Leg-spinner Imran Tahir, as usual, was De Villiers's 'go to man’ in crunch situations.
Their battling unit, led by the dangerous De Villers, looks more ominous than their bowling. De Villiers has already marked his arrival with the smashing ton in Kanpur and his deputy, Faf du Plesis, is not far behind, having scored a vital 62.
JP Duminy too is in cracking form, so what if he failed in the first ODI.
And with the likes of Hashim Amla, David Miller, Quinton de Kock and Farhaan Behardien in the ranks, the Indian bowlers are sure to have another tough day in office.
However, going by records, the Holkar Stadium is a happy hunting ground for the home team as India have won all their previous high-scoring matches at the venue.
They have played three ODIs at the venue and won all three.
Teams (from):
India: Mahendra Singh Dhoni (captain), Harbhajan Singh, Stuart Binny, Shikhar Dhawan, Virat Kohli, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Axar Patel, Ajinkya Rahane, Suresh Raina, Ambati Rayudu, Mohit Sharma, Rohit Sharma, Umesh Yadav, Gurkeerat Singh and Amit Mishra.
South Africa: AB De Villiers (captain), Hashim Amla, Quinton de Kock, Faf Du Plessis, JP Duminy, David Miller, Farhaan Behardien, Chris Morris, Khaya Zondo, Aaron Phangiso, Imran Tahir, Dale Steyn, Morne Morkel, Kyle Abbott, Kagiso Rabada.
Match starts at 1.30 pm (IST)
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