India’s head coach Gautam Gambhir and Surrey’s head groundsman Lee Fortis argued during training for the fifth and final Test against England at The Oval. The video of the argument has gone viral, gaining attention days before the fifth Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy Test.
After a competitive tie in Manchester, India arrived in London with England leading the five-match series 2-1. The Indian team’s proximity to the pitch reportedly sparked a fight as players and support staff gathered for an optional training session at The Oval on Tuesday.
In a news conference, India’s batting coach Sitanshu Kotak explained that the confrontation started when a groundstaff member urged the Indian team to stand 2.5 meters from the wicket.
“Honestly, one of the ground staff told us to stand 2.5 meters from the wicket and ‘go outside the rope and see the wicket’. Never seen anything like that. This requires no complaint. Before this game, we thought the curator was hard to work with. Possession is excellent but not great. We were safe because we wore joggers, not spikes, Kotak told the journalists.
Go report whatever you want: Gautam Gambhir
Fortis reportedly intended to save the Indian team’s use of the main square and players straying too close to the pitches for the rest of the English summer. The Indian camp considered the demands strange, especially since players were not wearing spikes. Kotak sought to defuse it. Gambhir spoke briefly with the curator.
“You report whatever you want. Nothing will be damaged. You can’t direct us. “You’re just a groundsman,” Gautam Gambhir said.
Kotak said the Indian squad would not complain. He added that the team took efforts to protect the surface.
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