India vs South Africa ODIs: Records Beckon Captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni

He may be out of form and his position in Team India has been questioned by former teammate Ajit Agarkar, but Mahendra Singh Dhoni is on the cusp of several records as captain of a very gifted Indian team.   (MS Dhoni's Place Must Come Under Scrutiny) (India Set to Defend No. 2 Spot in ODIs)

India lost the three-match Twenty20 series against South Africa 2-0 - the third match at Eden Gardens was abandoned due to rain - but the 50-over-format starting in Kanpur on Sunday will be a different cup of tea for Captain Cool. (India to Put Its No 2 Position on Line)

With more time to plan and strategise, the ODIs will give Dhoni to establish his credentials as a top captain and also pick up a few personal milestones on the way.

Dhoni has scored 6143 runs as captain prior to the start of the Kanpur ODI. He needs 153 more runs to overhaul Stephen Fleming, who has scored 6295 runs as captain of New Zealand. Former Australian skipper Ricky Ponting heads this list with 8197 runs.

Dhoni will also close in on Ponting and former South African skipper Graeme Smith in terms of fifties scored at home when leading his team. Dhoni needs one more fifty for his 20th half-century. If he gets it, Dhoni will become the third captain to score 20-plus fifties on home soil. Ponting and Smith both have 25 each.

Dhoni need one more century to get his fifth hundred. He can then catch up with Smith, who has five on home soil. Ponting, with 10 centuries at home, occupies the first place.

Personal landmarks in a long career are inevitable. Dhoni and Smith share the record for the fourth place amongst captains who have led their teams on most occasions on home soil. Both have led on 63 times. The first ODI at Kanpur would be Dhoni's 64th captaincy assignment. Allan Border (114) Ponting (89) and Fleming (81) occupy the first three places.  

(With inputs from HR Gopala Krishna)