Mahendra Singh Dhoni has been banned for India’s next two one-day internationals against Sri Lanka (India 8/11 to win on series coupon).

The Indian captain was punished due to ICC match referee Jeff Crowe’s complaints that his team maintained a slow over rate during the second game in the five-test series.

Sri Lanka (evens to win the series on coupon) won that game by three wickets to level the series with three matches remaining, but India now faces going into two of those without Dhoni – who had hit 107 in the second game.

The Board of Control for Cricket in India announced that Dhoni would serve a ban immediately.

It said: “ICC match referee, Jeff Crowe, has imposed an immediate two-match suspension on Mahendra Singh Dhoni for slow over-rate after conducting a hearing last night.

“Virender Sehwag will lead the Indian team in the next two ODIs.”

Dhoni’s place in the Indian team will be taken by wicketkeeper-batsman Dinesh Karthik, while pace bowler Ishant Sharma will replace Shanthakumaran Sreesanth, who has not recovered from swine flu, for the third game (India 4/5, Sri Lanka evens to win on match coupon).

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