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Head Coach of the Indian Cricket Team, Gautam Gambhir got involved in a heated banter with the pitch curator of the Oval, London a couple of days ahead of the fifth Test against England at this ground. In a viral video by PTI, Lee Fortis, who is chief curator at the Oval wasn’t happy with the Indian team practising on the pitch which infuriated Gambhir as he was seen pointing fingers towards curator.
It went on to become a serious matter as there were also reports that the ground staff could lodge a complaint against Gautam Gambihr. However, India’s batting coach Sitanshu Kotak confirmed that India will not lodge any complaint. “When we were looking at pitch, they asked us to stand 2.5m away. We were wearing joggers. It was very odd. Looking at wicket with rubber spike, nothing wrong. We see ground is not damaged. Its a pitch, not antique,” Kotak said in the press conference ahead of the fifth Test.
“Curator yelled at support staff when they were getting ice box. Gambhir objected at that. The way he spoke irked Gambhir. Everyone knows curator at The Oval is not the easiest person to deal with,” he further added.
It is not my job to be happy with Gambhir: Oval Pitch curator
Curator of the Oval pitch Lee Fortis also shared his insights on his fight with Gautam Gambhir. “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..." Fortis was quoted as saying by ANI.
India are scheduled to play the fifth Test of a five-match series against England at the Kennington Oval in London from July 31 to August 4. India are trailing by 1-2 and need to win the final Test to level the series by 2-2.
