Right-handed batsman Virat Kohli will replace Yuvraj and left-arm spinner Pragyan Ojha will come in for Harbhajan, the BCCI said in a statement.

Left-hander Yuvraj fractured his index finger after he was hit by a short-pitched delivery from England seamer Tim Bresnan during India’s 319-run defeat in the second Test at Trent Bridge. Harbhajan suffered a grade one abdominal muscle strain in the same match.

“While Yuvraj Singh’s injury may take around 4 weeks to recover, Harbhajan Singh is likely to recover in 3 weeks’ time,” BCCI secretary N. Srinivasan said.

“The all-India senior selection committee has picked Virat Kohli and Pragyan Ojha as their replacements. Both players will join the Indian team at the earliest.”

India, 2-0 down in the four-match series, have struggled with injuries during the tour and England will take over at the top of the world rankings for the first time if they win the series by a two-Test margin.

The top-ranked Indians have missed prolific opening batsman Virender Sehwag in both Tests because of a shoulder injury, leading pace bowler Zaheer Khan was injured on day one of the first test at Lord’s and regular opener Gautam Gambhir missed the second test with a bruised arm.

Sehwag will join his team mates on Wednesday and Gambhir is also likely to return to the side for the third Test beginning on Aug. 10 in Birmingham.

There was, however, no word on the fitness of Zaheer. India will play a two-day tour game against Northamptonshire starting on Friday.
 

Meantime, Australia’s Twenty20 captain Cameron White said on Wednesday that he expects a tough contest against the hosts Sri Lanka during two upcoming matches.

Australia will play the Twenty20 games on Saturday and Monday at the newly-built Pallekele International Stadium near Kandy, before taking on the hosts in five One-Day Internationals and three Tests.

“The Sri Lankan team is obviously a very strong one,” said White, who is slated to return home after the Twenty20 games as he is not a part of the one-day and Test squads.

“I think they showed in England in the shorter formats they are in very good form, so I think the Sri Lankan team will be a very hard one to beat. We’ll have to play well.” White, who has so far led Australia in just two Twenty20 matches, said he was enjoying the new role as captain.

“I’m enjoying it a hell of a lot to be honest,” said the Victorian, who turns 28 later this month.

“We’ve trained hard and I think our preparation is well on the way to having us in a very good spot come Saturday for the first game.” Sri Lanka skipper Tillakaratne Dilshan insisted that his team would not be taking Australia lightly despite the youthful look to the tourists’ squad.

“Australia usually play very hard. They may be a bit inexperienced. But they are tough opponents,” Dilshan said in Colombo on Tuesday.

The skipper will be without injured opening bowler Lasith Malinga for the two Twenty20 matches against Australia but said he wanted his younger players to take the opportunity to perform for the side.

Australia and Sri Lanka have so far played four Twenty20 matches, with each team winning two.

Australia Twenty20 squad: Cameron White (capt), Shane Watson, David Warner, Brad Haddin, Shaun Marsh, David Hussey, Aaron Finch, Steven Smith, Steve O’Keefe, John Hastings, Mitchell Johnson, Brett Lee, James Pattinson.

Sri Lanka Twenty20 squad: Tillakaratne Dilshan (capt), Kumar Sangakkara, Mahela Jayawardene, Dinesh Chandimal, Angelo Mathews, Jeevan Mendis, Dilruwan Perera, Thisara Perera, Dhammika Prasad, Suranga Lakmal, Ajantha Mendis, Nuwan Kulasekara, Suraj Randiv, Rangana Herath, Chamara Silva, Shaminda Eranga