India’s head coach Gautam Gambhir got into a heated argument with the ground staff at The Oval on Tuesday, just two days before the crucial fifth and final Test against England. England currently lead the series 2-1, and the last match will start on Thursday in London.
The incident was caught on video, showing Gambhir confronting Lee Fortis, the lead curator of The Oval. The argument reportedly began when Fortis stopped an Indian support staff member from wheeling a cooler across the pitch area during training. Gambhir, visibly upset, told Fortis, “You can’t tell us what to do… you’re just the groundsman, nothing beyond.” He then walked away while speaking to batting coach Sitanshu Kotak, who tried to calm the situation.
Fortis warned he might file a complaint, to which Gambhir replied, “You can report to whoever you want.” Kotak later explained to reporters that Gambhir felt Fortis had spoken disrespectfully to their staff. “It’s okay to protect the pitch, but the way he shouted wasn’t right,” Kotak said. “At the end of the day, it’s a cricket pitch—not an antique that can’t be touched.”
This clash adds to the growing tension between the two teams during the series. Earlier, tempers flared in the third Test over time-wasting accusations. And the fourth Test ended with England’s captain Ben Stokes unhappy about Indian players refusing an early handshake.
With the final Test set to decide the series, this latest controversy has increased the drama and anticipation around the high-stakes match.
