Last Updated on 9 months ago by Charbel Coorey
If you thought the final hour at Old Trafford would be the end of the tension in the England-India series, think again. India head coach Gautam Gambhir was involved in a heated argument with Surrey groundsman Lee Fortis two days out from the fifth and final Test at The Oval.
The Indian players and support staff were taking part in an optional training session on Tuesday soon after arriving in London from Manchester. According to ESPNcricinfo, Fortis expressed concern by the number of people on the main square. There is still plenty of cricket to be played on this ground, with The Hundred and County Championship to stretch the season into September.
What did Gautam Gambir say to Lee Fortis?
In a video posted by Press Trust of India, Gambhir was quite animated in his exchange with Fortis. India assistant coach Sitanshu Kotak was then seen speaking to Fortis, where the groundsman told Gambhir not to swear otherwise he would “have to report to the match referee.”
Gambhir intervened with very stern words.
“You stop it. You don’t tell us what we need to do. You don’t tell us what we need to do, okay. You don’t need to tell us. You don’t tell any of my squad what we need to do. You have no right to tell us. You just a groundsman, you stay in your capacity. You are just a groundsman, nothing beyond. You are just a groundsman.”
Fortis, speaking to journalists after the incident, didn’t share specific details of the exchange. “It is quite a big game coming up. It is not my job to be happy with him (Gautam Gambhir) or not. I have never met him before today. You saw what he was like this morning. It’s okay, I am fine. We have nothing to hide,” he said.
Reactions to the exchange between Gautam Gambhir and Lee Fortis
There were contrasting views on the incident. Some believe Gambhir is in the wrong, while others point to Fortis talking with Brendon McCullum on The Oval pitch during the 2023 Ashes series.
Here are some of the reactions to the exchange.
The final Test begins on Thursday. After a fine effort to save the Manchester Test, India are now looking to save the series as England have a 2-1 lead.
