'I really don't know why Gambhir was upset...': Former India captain reacts to pitch controversy
Former India captain Sourav Ganguly on Thursday said he was unable to understand head coach Gautam Gambhir's reaction after Surrey's head groundsman, Lee Fortis, prevented the Indian team from closely inspecting The Oval pitch during Tuesday's practice session ahead of the fifth and final Test of the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy series.
Sourav Gaunguly addressed the pitch controversy
'I really don't know why Gambhir was upset. I'm sure all coaches and captains have discussions with the groundsmen sometimes happily, sometimes unhappily. It's happened in my time, it's going to happen in future also. So let's not just make too much out of it. I wish India play well, win the Test and level the series,' he said.
On Tuesday, while head coach Gautam Gambhir and batting coach Sitanshu Kotak were inspecting the central square at The Oval, Surrey's head groundsman, Lee Fortis, intervened and asked them not to get too close to the pitch. Worried about potential damage from excessive foot traffic, Fortis asked the Indian staff to stay at least 2.5 metres away from the playing surface a request that didn't go down well with Gambhir.
In a video that went viral on social media, Gambhir was seen walking aggressively toward Fortis, pointing a finger at him during the exchange. A later report by ESPNcricinfo described the heated confrontation, claiming that Gambhir allegedly told Fortis he was 'just a groundsman.' In response, Fortis reportedly warned the former India opener that if he continued using foul language, he would be reported to the ICC match referee.
Kotak admitted he felt 'awkward'
While speaking to the reporters. Kotak admitted that he felt 'awkward', when the Indian staff where asked to to maintain distance from he pitch despite note wearing spikes.
'When some of us coaches went to see the wicket, a member of the groundstaff said stay away at least 2.5 metres, which was a little surprising,' Kotak said. 'Because it is the pitch, the match is starting day after, it will be a five-day Test, and we're standing in our joggers, so we felt a little awkward.'
However, Kotak chose not talk about the spat between Gambhir and Fortis'[We were] just looking at the wicket, with rubber spikes, day after there's a Test match there, there's nothing wrong [with that]. Curators also need to understand the people they are talking to, they are highly skilled and intelligent. For example, if you go on the ground now where we practised, you won't even see that any bowler in the outfield would have marked with his spikes. That all comes from the head coach. We try and see this ground also doesn't get damaged.'
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