India batting coach Sitanshu Kotak reveals how Gautam Gambhir’s spat at The Oval stemmed over the pitch curator. Though tensions flared, Team India won’t file an official complaint.India’s batting coach Sitanshu Kotak has opened up about the recent incident involving head coach Gautam Gambhir and The Oval’s chief curator, Lee Fortis, during a practice session ahead of the fifth Test against England in London.
Sitanshu Kotak, the batting coach for Team India, has clarified what transpired between Gautam Gambhir and the ground staff at the Oval. He revealed that the curator had yelled at the support staff while getting the cooling box, and Gambhir objected to it. The way he spoke provoked the ground staff, leading to their confrontation during the training session. The batting coach also revealed that the Indian coaches were told to stand 2.5m away from the pitch when they went close to take a look at it.
The Fortis- Gambhir altercation on Oval ground
Gautam Gambhir was heard telling Lee Fortis,
“You’re just a groundsman here.” As the altercation continued, he added, “Go ahead, report whatever you want – you’re only a groundsman.” Gautam Gambhir also used a few expletives during the exchange.
Lee Fortis addressed the media and attempted to downplay the incident. The Oval curator stated that he had never met Gambhir before Tuesday, despite reporters pressing for details about what had transpired.
When asked why Gambhir appeared so animated, Lee Fortis suggested that the question be directed to Gambhir himself. He maintained that he was fine and added that there was nothing to hide. In the pre match press conference when Sitanshu Kotak was asked about the incident, Sitanshu Kotak was all in support of coach Gautam Gambhir and told what exactly happened at the ground.
Sitanshu Kotak Clarifies What Happened between Gautam Gambhir and Oval Ground Staff
Tensions ignited during Team India’s first training session at The Oval ahead of the fifth Test match in London. Head coach Gautam Gambhir was involved in a heated spat with the ground staff. Videos of their spat have become viral on social media.
The actual reason for their heated confrontation remains unknown, but reports suggest that the Indian coach was dispirited with the facilities provided to them. Coach Sitanshu Kotak has presented a clarification on the scenario and revealed why Gautam Gambhir lost his cool over the ground staff.
“When we went to take a look at the wicket, they sent a person and asked us to stand 2.5m away, which was a little surprising. The five-day Test match takes place the day after tomorrow, and we were wearing joggers. It was very awkward,” Sitanshu Kotak said at the press conference.
“The curator yelled at the support staff when they were getting the cooling box. Gambhir objected to it. The way he spoke irked Gambhir. Everyone knows that the curator at The Oval is not the easiest person to deal with. India will not lodge any official complaint,” Sitanshu Kotak added.
Team India head coach Sitanshu Kotak further disagreed with an observation abot Head Coach Gautam Gambhir feeling the heat ahead of the Fifth Test against England at The Oval. Sitanshu Kotak admitted that the entire management and support staff are disappointed about India trailing 1-2 in the five-match series, but added that Gautam Gambhir is not feeling any pressure.
India’s head coach has been very active in England over the past few days. He delivered passionate responses to the media during the press conference after the draw in the Manchester Test. On Tuesday, 29th July, Gautam Gambhir got into an disagreement with the Oval’s pitch curator Lee Fortis.
At a press conference on Tuesday, Sitanshu Kotak was asked if the Indian head coach is beginning to feel the pressure of the visitors being behind in the Test series, ina a composed manner, Sitanshu Kotak disagreed and replied :
“I don’t think so. I think it has been a very competitive series and both the teams, to be fair to England also, have played really well. The first Test and the Lord’s Test also could have gone either way. All the Test matches went to the fifth day. It has been an absolutely brilliant Test series so far. Gautam is someone I have never seen under pressure from his playing days to now.
“Definitely not under pressure and we wish we would have won the Lord’s game and gone 2-1 up. But, that’s not pressure. That’s just going back and thinking if we could have done something different. That’s nothing about taking pressure,” the 52-year-old went on to add.
With a young side, Team India have been highly competitive in the series so far. They came close to winning the Lord’s Test , but went down by 22 runs.
India are currently trailing 2-1 in the five-match series. The fourth Test ended in a draw at Old Trafford and the final match at The Oval is their last chance to level the series. All eyes will now be on Thursday, July 31, when the two teams take the field for one last time in this thrilling series.
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