Tensions flared ahead of the fifth and final Test of the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy, as India head coach Gautam Gambhir found himself in a heated exchange with Surrey’s head groundsman, Lee Fortis, during India’s training session at The Oval. The confrontation reportedly occurred when Fortis objected to Gambhir inspecting the pitch too closely, instructing him to maintain a 2.5-metre distance.

While pitch inspection is a standard routine for coaches and captains ahead of any Test match to assess surface behaviour and fine-tune team strategy, the insistence on distancing surprised many. India’s batting coach Sitanshu Kotak, speaking to the media, admitted he had never witnessed such a restriction in his entire cricketing career.

“The ground staff literally told the head coach to move outside the ropes to look at the pitch. That’s unheard of,” Sitanshu Kotak said, adding that the tone and manner were uncalled for, especially when no pitch-tampering occurred.

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The episode sparked a broader debate, with former India all-rounder Irfan Pathan taking to social media to question the apparent double standards. “So an English coach can walk onto the pitch to inspect it but an Indian coach can’t? Are we still stuck in the colonial era?” he asked on X. Pathan backed Gambhir, noting that he was wearing rubber-spiked shoes — far less damaging to the surface than metal spikes.

Incredible footage of a furious Gautam Gambhir involved in a heated exchange with head groundsman of The Oval ahead of 5th Test between India and England pic.twitter.com/QDW7wcwfZW

— News18 CricketNext (@cricketnext) July 29, 2025

In a detailed video on his YouTube channel, Pathan further accused the curator of having a history of abrasive behaviour toward overseas teams. He pointed to an old photo circulating online, showing England head coach Brendon McCullum standing on the same pitch with no objections. “This double standard is unacceptable. We treat visiting teams with respect in India, but when we tour, we get treated like this,” Pathan fumed.

He also emphasized the importance of physically inspecting the pitch to gauge its hardness, moisture content, and character — things not possible from a distance. “You can’t just stare at it from 2.5 meters and understand what you’re dealing with. This has been turned into an unnecessary controversy.”

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Kotak echoed these thoughts, suggesting the incident reflected an overzealous attempt at control. “Curators must realize they are speaking to highly skilled and knowledgeable individuals. A cricket pitch isn’t a 200-year-old artifact that’ll crumble if touched,” he remarked. As the dust settles, Gambhir and his coaching staff will shift focus to the game itself, hoping to leave the off-field noise behind and guide India to a strong finish in the decider at The Oval.