30-07-2025
India captain Shubman Gill labels pitch exchange with Oval groundsman 'absolutely unnecessary' as he backs coach Gautam Gambhir in spat
Shubman Gill insists India 's treatment while assessing the Oval pitch was 'absolutely unnecessary' after tempers frayed once again on the eve of the Test series finale against England.
Twenty four hours after Gautam Gambhir was involved in a finger-wagging spat with Surrey head groundsman Lee Fortis, his captain Gill weighed in with unequivocal support.
'What happened yesterday, I thought is just absolutely unnecessary. It's not the first time that we were having a look at the wicket and we have been here for almost two months,' Gill said.
'A coach has every right to be able to go close quarters and have a look at the wicket. I didn't think that there was anything wrong with that. I actually don't know why the curator would not allow us to go have a look at the wicket.'
Gill pointed out that India's inspection was 'from three metres away' and that it was normal to be able to stand on the square in either rubber soles or bare feet.
However, Mail Sport understands that Fortis was unhappy that members of the Indian dressing-room were using parts of the main square he was keen to protect, as well pulling their equipment across it during their net session.
VIDEO | Indian team's head coach Gautam Gambhir was seen having verbal spat with chief curator Lee Fortis at The Oval Cricket Ground in London ahead of the last Test match of the series starting Thursday.
After having drawn the fourth Test at Old Trafford, India have a chance…
— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) July 29, 2025
Fortis had warned England's support staff to carry and not drag their bags across the playing expanse, concerned about potential damage caused by boots and the bags' wheels given that the Oval has already hosted 60 days of cricket this summer.
Gambhir did not take kindly to the request, with Indian media reporting that he told Fortis: 'You don't tell me what to do.'
Fortis, who in 2024 was named ECB groundsman of the year for the third year in succession, was then spoken to in more conciliatory fashion by Indian batting coach Shitanshu Kotak.
Images of England coach Brendon McCullum standing alongside the pitch then began being circulated around the world, although it is understood that they are from two years ago.
