Gambhir’s run in with Oval curator ahead of fifth Test

India head coach Gautam Gambhir was involved in a heated verbal argument with the chief curator Lee Fortis at The Oval, venue for the fifth Test against England starting on Thursday.

- HT Correspondent

In videos that surfaced on X, Gambhir in the incident that happened on Tuesday during training can be seen animatedly pointing a finger at Fortis with some words audible, including “You don't tell us what to do”, and “you're just the groundsman, nothing beyond.”

India’s batting coach Sitanshu Kotak is seen stepping in, taking Fortis away and having a brief chat with him. India’s assistant coach Ryan ten Doeschate joins Kotak while Gambhir, standing away, continues to make his point while standing on the fringes of a batting net.

Later in the news conference on Tuesday, Kotak said: “When we were having a conversation near the pitch they had sent a man to send a message for us to stay 2.5m away from the pitch. We were wearing joggers, so it was awkward.”