A viral video capturing a heated exchange between Indian head coach Gautam Gambhir and The Oval's chief pitch curator Lee Fortis has ignited debate just days before the fifth and final Test between India and England. Amid growing attention, former India cricketer Madan Lal has come out in firm support of Gambhir, calling his actions justified.
Speaking on the matter, Madan Lal said, “I am with Gautam Gambhir, whatever he did was right. We never question the visiting team while they inspect the pitch and never ask them to stay away from it. I don’t know whether he was instigated, but it is the team’s right to see the pitch.”
The incident reportedly involved a disagreement over how close the Indian staff was allowed to get to the pitch. According to batting coach Sitanshu Kotak, who was also present at the scene, the curator’s team had sent a message instructing the Indian coaches to stay 2.5 metres away from the surface. “We were wearing joggers. We know curators are possessive about the square. What he said about the head coach is his opinion and I don’t want to comment,” Kotak clarified in a press conference.
The confrontation arrives at a pivotal moment in the series. With England leading 2-1, the final Test offers India a chance to level the series. Emotions are understandably high, but the spat has brought the behind-the-scenes tension into public view.
Madan Lal’s defense of Gambhir reflects a growing sentiment that pitch inspection is a routine and accepted part of pre-match preparation, and visiting teams should be afforded equal respect. As the cricketing world gears up for the decider, the spotlight remains not just on the pitch, but on the events surrounding it.
IND Vs ENG: Why Did Gautam Gambhir Get Into A Heated Exchange With Oval Pitch Curator Lee Fortis? Indian Batting Coach Gives Clarification
Indian batting coach Sitanshu Kotak has addressed the recent verbal spat between Indian head coach Gautam Gambhir and The Oval's chief pitch curator, Lee Fortis, ahead of the fifth and final Test between India and England, set to begin Thursday. The exchange between Gambhir and Fortis sparked considerable attention, especially as tensions rise with the series on the line.
In a pre-match press conference, Kotak offered his perspective on the incident, saying, “When we were looking at the pitch. They had sent a man to send a message for us to stay 2.5 m away from the pitch. This was a little surprising. We were wearing joggers. It was quite awkward. We know curators are a little overprotective and possessive about the square and the ground. What he said about the head coach is his opinion, and I don't want to comment. There is nothing wrong with looking at a wicket wearing rubber spikes.”
The spat reportedly erupted during a routine inspection of the pitch area, with both parties seemingly disagreeing over proximity and protocol. Lee Fortis had earlier played down the incident, stating that he had never met Gambhir before that day and wasn’t concerned by the exchange. “It is quite a big game coming up. It is not my job to be happy with him or not,” Fortis remarked. “You saw what he was like this morning. It’s okay, I am fine. We have nothing to hide.”
The incident comes at a crucial juncture in the series. India managed to hold England to a draw in the fourth Test at Old Trafford, keeping their hopes alive. With England leading the five-match series 2-1, the final Test at The Oval presents India with a chance to level the contest.
While the verbal spat may not have any official consequences, it has added another layer of intrigue to a high-stakes showdown between two top cricketing sides.
