London: From a virtually hopeless situation, Team India managed to pull off a draw in the fourth Test at Manchester two days ago, thanks to a gutsy batting performance.
With England leading 2-1, the series is very much ‘live’ as both teams have everything to play for in the decider which starts at London’s Kennington Oval on July 31.
After a day of travel and rest, the Indian team hit the ground running on Tuesday. But more than the cricketers, it was coach Gautam Gambhir who was at the centre of attention.
The head coach of Shubman Gill & Co. was involved in a heated argument with Lee Fortis, chief pitch curator at the Oval.
According to PTI, Gambhir lashed out at Fortis, who was apparently not happy with the Indian team practising on a particular pitch. As Curtis made his point clear, Gambhir was anything but amused as he pointed fingers at the chief groundsman and gave him a piece of his mind.
In a video posted by PTI, India batting coach Sitanshu Kotak was also seen confronting Fortis. According to a report in TOI, the groundstaff at The Oval is likely to lodge a complaint against Gambhir.
“You don’t tell us what to do… You can’t tell any of us what to do. You are just a groundstaff,” Gambhir is heard telling Curtis.
Batting coach Sitanshu Kotak took Fortis away from the area where the Indians were practising and had a lengthy talk with him, as Gambhir returning to overseeing the net session.
Check out the video posted by PTI on X:
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… pic.twitter.com/hfjHOg9uPf
— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) July 29, 2025
Curtis has reportedly lodged a complaint against Gambhir to the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB).
This incident will help add spice to the final Test of a series which has been fiercely contested with no team willing to give the other an inch of space. There have been a number of tense moments too, with players confronting each other on the field.
India captain Gill lost his cool at England opener Zak Crawley, accusing him of deliberately wasting time to avoid an extra over at the end of the third day’s play in the Lord’s Test. Tempers also flared the Indian team refused to accept Ben Stokes’ offer of a draw in the fourth Test with an hour’s play left. The Indian side was justified as both Ravindra Jadeja and Washington Sundar, having frustrated England for more than two sessions, were close to personal milestones. The two left-handers went on to score unbeaten centuries before the game was ultimately drawn.
