LONDON – India head coach Gautam Gambhir was involved in a heated exchange with Lee Fortis, head of ground staff at Surrey, during a routine pitch inspection at The Oval ahead of the final Test against England, batting coach Sitanshu Kotak confirmed on Tuesday.
The confrontation occurred when Fortis asked Gambhir to maintain a 2.5-metre distance from the pitch, prompting the coach to react sharply. Media reports stated that Gambhir raised his finger and told Fortis not to instruct him on what to do.
“When we went to see the wicket, they sent someone to tell us to stay 2.5 metres away from the pitch, which was a little surprising,” Kotak said at a press conference. “It’s a cricket wicket, there’s a five-day Test starting the day after, and we were wearing joggers. So it was a bit awkward. We all know that curators can be a little over-protective, but at the end of the day, it’s a cricket pitch, not an antique that you can’t touch.”
Fortis attempted to play down the incident, telling a group of journalists, “There’s nothing more to add… we have nothing to hide here.” Surrey County Cricket Club declined to comment. Kotak stressed that the Indian team had been careful not to cause any damage to the pitch during Tuesday’s practice session.
India are set to play the fifth and final Test of the series against England at The Oval starting Thursday, with the hosts currently leading the series 2-1. The previous Test ended in a draw, and India must win the final match to level the series. Tensions have run high between the two sides throughout the tour, with on-field competitiveness now mirrored off the field as well.