New Delhi, Dec 19 (ANI): Indian skipper Mahender Singh Dhoni was on Saturday banned for two one-day internationals (ODIs) due to the team's slow over-rate, during the second one-day international match against Sri Lanka in Nagpur.

Dhoni will now not be able to play in the third and fourth one-day internationals that will be played in Cuttack and Kolkata on December 21 and 24.

The decision to impose the ban on Dhoni was taken by Match referee JJ Crowe, who found Team India guilty of a slow over rate during the Nagpur ODI and the extra time taken to complete their allotted fifty overs.

The five match ODI series is now tied, with both the teams winning one match each.

India opener Gautam Gambhir is likely to be named the captain for the next two ODIs in the absence of Dhoni.

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has however, not made any official announcement on who will lead the side in the absence of the regular skipper. (ANI)