New Delhi: Just two days before the decisive fifth Test of the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy, tensions flared at The Oval as India head coach Gautam Gambhir was involved in a heated exchange with the ground’s chief curator, Lee Fortis. The confrontation, which occurred during a practice session, quickly made waves online as videos of the spat surfaced on social media.
The disagreement reportedly stemmed from restrictions placed on the Indian team regarding the practice pitches. Fortis allegedly instructed the players to maintain a distance of 2.5 metres from the wicket and to inspect the pitch only from beyond the boundary rope. Gambhir, visibly upset, is said to have retorted, “You don’t tell us what we need to do,” as tensions escalated.
Batting coach Sitanshu Kotak intervened, leading Fortis aside for a private conversation, assuring him there was no risk to the pitch, as the players were wearing joggers and not spike shoes. Kotak later clarified to the media that the team had no intention of filing a complaint.
Despite the flare-up, Gambhir remained focused on the upcoming Test. He stated that the team was determined to finish strong, acknowledging that both sides had fought hard throughout the series and emphasizing that one final push remained.
The incident adds to a series already marked by friction. Earlier in the series, controversy erupted at Lord’s when England openers arrived late to the crease, frustrating Indian players. At Manchester, verbal spats occurred when Indian batters chose to continue batting despite England’s offer to call off play, aiming to reach individual milestones.
The Oval spat has also drawn scrutiny over alleged double standards. A photo from a previous Test showed Fortis on the pitch with England coach Brendon McCullum, raising questions about inconsistent enforcement of ground rules.
While walking away from the field after the altercation, Fortis reportedly commented, “It’s a big game, and he’s a bit touchy,” referring to Gambhir’s reaction.
Meanwhile, the Indian squad continued preparations for the crucial final match. Sai Sudharsan, who had mixed performances in the Manchester Test, was among the first to hit the nets, followed by Kuldeep Yadav and Arshdeep Singh, both putting in focused training sessions under the watchful eye of the coaching staff.
With emotions running high and the series finely balanced, all eyes are now on The Oval, where both teams will be looking to settle scores — both on and off the field.
