Why tensions flared between India coach Gautam Gambhir and 'over-protective' ground staff ahead of fifth Test at The Oval
Published 29/07/2025 at 17:52 GMT+1
Yet more animosity has arisen between England and India during their five-match Test series, after videos emerged on social media appearing to show the tourists' head coach, Gautam Gambhir, in a fierce confrontation with ground staff at The Oval. India's batting coach Sitanshu Kotak sought to explain the incident in a news conference ahead of the fifth and final Test, which starts on Thursday.
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There has been more drama between England and India ahead of their fifth and final Test after a video emerged appearing to show Gautam Gambhir in a fiery confrontation with ground staff at The Oval.
Gambhir, who was appointed as India's head coach last summer, was seen to be venting his frustration towards Lee Fortis, Surrey's head of ground staff.
In the clip, Gambhir is heard saying: "You can't tell us what to do".
The training session took place ahead of the fifth Test between England and India, which begins on Thursday. The hosts lead the series 2-1 after a draw in the fourth Test at Old Trafford.
Speaking ahead of their final clash, India's batting coach Sitanshu Kotak sought to explain Gambhir's reaction shown in the video, and said the coaches wanted to look at the wicket before being asked to move away.
"When we were standing on the wicket looking at it, one of the ground staff came and said to stand two and half metres away from here. In my cricketing career I have never seen anybody saying that," Kotak said.
"Literally he was saying that 'you can go outside the rope' to the head coach and see the wicket. I don't know how you can see.
"If someone was brushing their shoes, or somebody is trying to put something on the wicket or somebody wearing spikes - if the curator feels that, then fine - but it was a very strange way of saying it."
Kotak continued: "Curators are a little over-protective or possessive about the square and the ground. [They] need to understand that the people they are talking to are highly skilled and intelligent people.
"When you are working with very intelligent and highly skilled people, if you sound a bit arrogant, you can be protective - but at the end of the day it's a cricket pitch. It's not an antique that you can't touch because it's 200 years old and it can be broken. That's what I feel."
ESPNcricinfo reported that Fortis' concerns arose over India using the majority of the main square for their training session, and was concerned by players and coaches getting too close to the pitch with much cricket still to be played by Surrey at the venue this season.
Upon being questioned by reporters, Fortis downplayed the incident. "There's nothing to speak about," he said.
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The confrontation adds another layer of needle to the already simmering Test series.
India refused England's offer to shake hands and declare a draw when the result was almost inevitable during the fourth Test at Old Trafford, and only did so once Ravindra Jadeja and Washington Sundar reached respective centuries, which appeared to frustrate members of the England squad.
That came after a dramatic third Test edged by England at Lord's, which prompted India captain Shubman Gill to complain over what he felt was "time-wasting tactics" utilised by the hosts, claiming the perceived gamesmanship was not in the "spirit of the game".
The drawn fourth Test gives both sides something to play for at The Oval, with England seeking to clinch the series victory and India hoping to force a 2-2 draw.
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