India suffer double injury setback

(CNN) -- India have suffered a double injury blow in their attempts to retain their status as the world number one nation in Test cricket, with the news that both Harbhajan Singh and Yuvraj Singh have been ruled out of the remaining series again England.

Hosts England currently lead India 2-0, with two matches remaining, in the four-Test series and will overtake their opponents as the top-ranked Test team if they win the series by a two-Test margin.

And India's hopes of winning one of the two remaining matches, at Edgbaston in August 10 and The Oval on August 18, have been dented after off-spinner Harbhajan and all-rounder Yuvraj were both confirmed as injury victims.

"Yuvraj has fractured his left index finger and Harbhajan has an abdominal muscle strain," Indian cricket board secretary N. Srinivasan said in a statement.

"While Yuvraj's injury may take around four weeks, Harbhajan is likely to recover in three weeks' time.

"The selection committee has picked Virat Kohli and Pragyan Ojha as their replacements. Both players will join the Indian team at the earliest."

India have been beset by injury problems on their tour of England, with leading paceman Zaheer Khan, who was ruled out of the second Test at Lord's with a hamstring injury, rated doubtful for the Edgbaston Test next week.

However, openers Virender Sehwag (shoulder) and Gautam Gambhir (elbow) are both expected to return after also missing the Lord's defeat.