Virender Sehwag & Ishant Sharma to miss India's ODI series in England

Sehwag [left] and Sharma are pivotal figures in the India line-up

India will be without star opener Virender Sehwag and pace bowler Ishant Sharma for next month's five-match one-day international series with England.

Sehwag joined the tour late because of a shoulder problem but recorded a king pair at Edgbaston and it has emerged he has labyrinthitis of the left ear.

Sharma injured a ligament in his left ankle at Edgbaston and will also return home after the Test series.

Paceman Varun Aaron and batsman Ajinkya Rahane, both uncapped, have been added.

The loss of two such influential figures adds further misery to a wretched tour for India, who were deposed as world number one in the Test rankings by England and face the prospect of a 4-0 whitewash in the series.

Sehwag had shoulder surgery in May but was expected to be fit for the start of the Test series in July.

However, he missed the first two matches and after making only eight on his return against Northants became only the 13th man to suffer a first-ball dismissal in both innings of a Test match.

The 32-year-old made eight and 33 in the final Test at The Oval but a statement from the Indian Cricket Board confirmed: "Mr Sehwag suffered from labyrinthitis of the left ear on 24 July 2011.

"Although his condition has improved, he continues to experience headaches. An ENT [ear, nose and throat] specialist, who was consulted on the same, has said that he will take two more weeks to recover completely.

"Mr Sehwag has made good progress since the surgery on his right shoulder. He will be continuing rehabilitation to build up his throwing and bowling fitness."

Regarding Sharma, who took 1-97 in the first innings at The Oval, the statement added: "Mr Sharma sustained a ligament injury in his left ankle during the Birmingham Test.

"He has responded well to treatment, but will need to undergo a course of intensive rehabilitation and training to prevent recurrence of the pain in his left ankle."

Their replacements are Rahane, a 23-year-old Mumbai batsman and 21-year-old Jharkhand fast bowler Aaron.

A Twenty20 international takes place at Old Trafford on 31 August before the 50-over matches begin at Durham on 3 September.