With the series on the line, India and England will meet in the fifth Test at the Kennington Oval, starting July 31. But before the big match, India head coach Gautam Gambhir was involved in a heated exchange with the ground’s chief curator, Lee Fortis.
Eyewitnesses at the ground saw Gambhir pointing fingers and speaking angrily. Batting coach Sitanshu Kotak also got involved. The exact reason for the argument is still not known.
Speaking to media after the exchange, Fortis called Gambhir a 'touchy guy' but did not divulge much details on what led to the ugly spat.
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“You’re Just a Groundsman!” - Gautam Gambhir’s Heated Spat With Oval Curator Before Fifth Test
The incident took place during India’s practice session on Tuesday. As reported by The Times of India, Gambhir seemed unhappy with the facilities at the ground and did not hold back. According to those nearby, he raised his voice and told Fortis,
"You don't tell us what we need to do. You can't tell any one of us what we need to do. You are just a groundsman, stay like a groundsman."
Fortis was also seen having a chat with Kotak, who appeared to listen calmly. But Gambhir followed and continued making his point.
A report in TOI said that the curator is considering filing a complaint against Gambhir after the argument. This did not affect Gambhir as he replied:
"You can go and report to whoever you want, but you can’t tell us what to do."
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This is not the first time tempers have flared in this series. In the Lord’s Test, Shubman Gill shouted at Zak Crawley and Ben Duckett for walking out late to bat. He was caught on the stump mic using strong language, which drew reactions online.
During the Manchester Test, England skipper Ben Stokes offered Ravindra Jadeja and Washington Sundar a handshake to end the match early as only a draw was possible. Both Indian batters declined, as they were close to scoring centuries. This led to visible frustration from the England players.
The match ended in a draw but there were heated words exchanged on the field. It left both sides with tension heading into the final match. England currently lead 2-1 in the series.
Also read: India vs Pakistan Asia Cup Match on September 14 to Go Ahead Despite Social Media Uproar - Reports
