India Coach Gambhir Clashes with Oval Groundsman Before Decisive Test

Tensions escalated at The Oval during India's training session ahead of the crucial final Test against England, with India's head coach Gautam Gambhir involved in a heated altercation with Surrey’s head groundsman, Lee Fortis. The dispute arose because India were using areas of the main square that Fortis wanted to protect for upcoming matches, including the Test and limited-overs fixtures. Gambhir expressed frustration over the conditions of the practice pitch and Fortis's strict demands, leading to Gambhir angrily telling Fortis, "You don’t tell us what to do" and dismissing him as "just a groundsman." Batting coach Sitanshu Kotak intervened to ease tensions, explaining that Fortis had been directive about where the team could train and was unhappy with the use of the square, but also that Fortis was known to be difficult to deal with. The incident reflects heightened pressures on Team India and Gambhir, with the series standing at 2-1 in England's favor and the final Test critical for India’s chances. This confrontation adds to the series' ongoing tensions, which have included disputes over sportsmanship and playing tactics in earlier matches.