Even for his ardent fans, and he is still the most popular player in the cricket-mad country, it was painful to watch Dhoni struggle in Sunday's one-day series opener against South Africa.
Time and again, he tried the big shots that once came out of his blade with amazing regularity and time and again he could not connect.
Known for his penchant to seal victory with a six, exhibited famously in the final of the 2011 World Cup, Dhoni managed only one boundary in his 31-ball ordeal as the wheels came off India's chase in the final overs in Kanpur.
