Gautam Gambhir Engages in Heated Exchange with Surrey Groundsman Ahead of 5th Test at The Oval. Team India’s head coach became embroiled in a heated argument with Lee Fortis, a groundsman for Surrey at The Oval, ahead of the fifth Test between India and England. Fortis expressed concern during an optional training session regarding the players and coaching staff being too close to the pitch in the square area.
Reports indicate that Fortis asked Gambhir’s coaching staff to be 2.5 meters from the square, even while wearing rubber-soled shoes. Gambhir objected to Fortis’s tone and restriction and responded angrily, and words were exchanged.
The situation escalated when members of the support staff were preparing to place a cooling box near the pitch area. Fortis intervened again. It is alleged that Gambhir offered dismissive remarks to Fortis and questioned the groundsman’s authority. At this point, India’s batting coach, Sitanshu Kotak, intervened to try to de-escalate the situation. He later defended by stating the curator was unnecessarily aggressive and not professional in his behavior towards the team.
Witnesses described it as a heated exchange, with both parties initially unwilling to back down. The situation did not devolve into anything. Fortis later brushed off the encounter, describing Gambhir as “touchy” about some things and declining to report the incident to match officials when asked if he would.
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India is not likely to make an official complaint, and preparations for the final test are ongoing. The Oval Test, starting July 31, will determine the hard-fought series, which is currently 2-1 in favor of England. The incident has increased what is already a high-voltage tour.
