Zimbabwe's forgettable one-day tour went from bad to worse with opening batsman Mark Vermeulen ruled out of the rest of the tri-series with a fractured skull.

Vermeulen was left bruised and bloodied after top-edging a hook shot into his forehead in his side's courageous 24-run loss to India at the Gabba.

Vermeulen immediately retired hurt on 14 in the eighth over and was taken by ambulance to hospital where X-rays revealed a depressed fracture.

The 24-year-old opener was wearing a new-style helmet but the ball, a bouncer from left-arm quick Irfan Pathan, travelled between the visor and peak and wedged there.

Vermeulen was in a stable condition but will require reconstructive surgery and is expected to remain in Brisbane for the rest of the week.

The blow added injury to insult for the outclassed Zimbabweans who fell to their fourth straight loss in the series in making 231 in a rain-interrupted reply to India's 6-255.

Lower order resistance in the form of two hard-hitting 39s from Sean Ervine and Dion Ebrahim gave the struggling Africans something to smile about as they threatened to pull off a stunning upset before being bowled out in the 48th over.

The victory put the Indians (17) a point behind Australia (18) at the half-way point in the competition.

Indian vice-captain Rahul Dravid initially put the boot to Zimbabwe's throat after having a millstone taken from his own neck.

Freed from his burden of wicketkeeping, as specialist gloveman Parthiv Patel was called up to replace Sachin Tendulkar, Dravid (84 from 106 balls) took extra responsibility with the bat.

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