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Even as the players were enjoying a rare couple of days away from the game, they had to soak in the worst possible news: the exit of Yuvraj Singh and Harbhajan Singh.

The team management confirmed that the two Singhs would be out of action for four and three weeks respectively. In other words, neither of them will take part in the remaining two Tests, even as India try to regain some pride, if not the series or the No. 1 ranking.

The only positive is that it brings in two relatively fresh pairs of legs, and more importantly, two souls who are not plagued by the two big defeats here. The Indian cricket board, back home, announced that Virat Kohli and Pragyan Ojha would soon join the team.

It will, of course, have to be seen if either of them will actually get to play even one Test. India already have a backup spinner in Amit Mishra and he will play in the two-day game against Northamptonshire; if he performs here, he will be the lead tweaker, especially as England are vulnerable to leg spin.

Kohli, who was axed from the squad after failing to make use of the opportunities in West Indies, will mostly make up the numbers; or, at the extreme, he will be around if the injuries continue to mount.

With the arrival of Virender Sehwag and return to fitness of Gautam Gambhir, only one place will be open to debate in the middle order. Rahul Dravid will go back to No. 3, as will VVS Laxman to No. 5. Suresh Raina will take the last batting slot after Yuvraj's exit.

As of now, there is no certainty about Zaheer Khan's injury status: he bowled a few deliveries even as the Indian players were roundly being booed at Trent Bridge. It's unlikely that he will be pushed into the side game, unless he is totally sure.

Harbhajan played a minimal role in the second Test owing to an abdominal strain; Yuvraj took a nasty blow on his fingers while trying to ward off Tim Bresnan. Both went to a hospital in Derby on Tuesday evening.

Harbhajan was diagnosed with a grade one lower abdominal strain and was advised rest for three weeks. Yuvraj was referred to a specialist in London, and on Wednesday, it was known that his left index finger was fractured.

It may be recalled Zaheer had withdrawn on the opening day of the first Test itself with a thigh strain; Gautam Gambhir too pulled out of the second Test after being hit on the elbow by Matt Prior. Sachin Tendulkar was out of action during a crucial phase of the Lord's test; he eventually batted at the unfamiliar No. 5 position but he wasn't at his 100 per cent.

Looks like there is only more pain, if not injuries, on the tour.