The Indian team's preparation for the first Test against Pakistan suffered a big blow when the pace duo of R P Singh and S Sreesanth were ruled of the match on Tuesday.

R P Singh is down with a rib muscle injury, while Sreesanth suffered a shoulder injury during the fifth and final one-day international against Pakistan in Jaipur on Sunday.

Both players skipped Tuesday's net practice at the Ferozshah Kotla stadium in Delhi.

Interestingly, the selectors named only one replacement in pacer Munaf Patel, and, thus, he can be expected to make the playing eleven.

The 24-year-old Munaf was dropped from the Indian squad after a disappointing performance in the ODIs in England. He was not included for the Test matches there because of a back strain, but made the one-day squad at the expense of Sreesanth.

India's bowling coach Venkatesh Prasad had questioned the pacer's attitude during the England tour, saying the fast bowler did not bowl with the same intensity as earlier, in the one-dayers.

Munaf, though rated highly, has had an injury-ridden career. He was injured after the second ODI in South Africa last year and did not play any matches until the final Test, where he looked way below par, with many questioning his fitness.

He then missed the ODI series against the West Indies earlier this year because of injury. He made a comeback during the World Cup before again suffering an injury in the middle of the tour, in Bangladesh.