Much before the first ball of the NatWest Challenge has been bowled, India suffered a massive blow to its chances with Sachin Tendulkar being ruled out of the three-match series against England.

The Indians, who had a practice session at the Trent Bridge ground in Nottinghamshire on Sunday morning, had a fitness test done on Tendulkar and found the ace batsman unfit for the series beginning on Sep 1.

Tendulkar did not play a single match in the tri-series in Holland because of a tennis elbow on the left arm.

The little master did bowl his leg breaks at the nets, though.

Tendulkar, however, has not been ruled out of the ICC Champions Trophy, which starts on Sep 10.

A fresh test on the batting maestro will be carried out after the NatWest series is over on Sep 5.

Team manager Gautam Dasgupta said that no replacement has been sought for Tendulkar.

India play England in the first one-dayer at the Trent Bridge ground on Wednesday, followed by the second match at The Oval on Sep 3 and the decider at Lord's on Sep 5.

The complete schedule