India Cricket Coach Confronts Surrey Groundsman During Oval Test Preparation

India's head coach Gautam Gambhir was involved in a heated confrontation with Surrey head groundsman Lee Fortis during a training session at The Oval ahead of the fifth and final Test against England. The dispute escalated after Fortis asked the Indian coaching staff to stand two and a half meters away from the pitch while inspecting it, an unusual request according to India batting coach Sitanshu Kotak, who described Fortis as overly possessive and arrogant. The tension further increased when Fortis shouted at India's support staff over placing a cooling box near the pitch, prompting Gambhir to respond with strong language. Kotak emphasized that the Indian team respects the pitch but criticized Fortis's approach, noting that the coaching staff are highly skilled and should be treated accordingly. Fortis downplayed the incident and threatened to file a formal complaint, which India has denied considering. This conflict is part of a broader context of a competitive series marked by disputes and accusations of gamesmanship between India and England.