Former India head coach Ravi Shastri called Rishabh Pant’s foot fracture during the ongoing Test against England in Manchester a ‘body blow’, emphasising the impact on India’s dressing room due to the loss of one batter in the line-up. In the 68th over of India’s innings on day one, Pant attempted a reverse sweep off seam bowling all-rounder Chris Woakes, but the ball struck his right boot after taking an inside edge. With the swelling resembling a table tennis ball and some bleeding, Pant was unable to put weight on his injured foot. Eventually, an ambulance buggy resembling a golf cart took the grimacing Pant off the field. He retired hurt on 37 off 48 balls, having formed a 72-run partnership with B. Sai Sudharsan. Scans later revealed a fracture in his metatarsals, with a recovery period of at least six weeks. “It’s a body blow. It will affect the dressing room, because they will have lost a batter for the game – not just this innings, but for the next innings as well. If India get in to a tight position, his services will have been needed. He’s an in form player, plus the energy he brings in the way he plays, the way he disrupts the opposition attack.” “From England’s point of view, they think ‘at least we can control the game now’. There’s no man in the middle to give them sleepless nights, they don’t have that headache anymore,” Shastri was quoted as saying on Sky Sports’ broadcast ahead of day two’s play. ALSO READ | BCCI Confirms Rishabh Pant Available To Bat Despite Fracture But Won’t Keep What Did The English Camp Say? Former England captain Nasser Hussain commented on Pant’s injury as ‘a huge deal’ from a series perspective. “Dhruv Jurel has been doing a lot of wicketkeeping this morning. That ball (from Woakes that injured Pant) may have effectively got England two wickets, because Pant may not resume his batting here, in the first or second innings. The next Test also starts a week today. It’s a massive blow for the series if we lose such an influential cricketer.” “From England’s point of view, they think ‘at least we can control the game now’. There’s no man in the middle to give them sleepless nights, they don’t have that headache anymore,” Shastri said on Sky Sports’ broadcast ahead of day two’s play. “With the new ball this morning, we’ve got to make sure we put the ball in the right areas – get two quick ones and we feel we can get through their tail. Typical Test match cricket; the new ball is important, the first hour is important and hopefully we can get ahead in this game,” he added.