Clash at the Oval: Gambhir's Tense Exchange with Curator

In a heated exchange at the Oval on Tuesday, India's head coach Gautam Gambhir clashed with the ground's chief curator, Lee Fortis. The altercation, captured on widely circulated videos, saw Gambhir assertively defending his team's decisions, telling Fortis, 'you don't tell us what we need to do.'

The tension surfaced during a practice session as both sides prepared for the fifth and final Test between India and England, set to take place on Thursday. The Indian team, buoyed by their comeback in Manchester, appeared focused on the task ahead, even as the coaching staff worked to manage on-field tensions.

While the precise cause of the argument remains unclear, speculation suggests it pertained to the pitch conditions. The situation was eventually diffused by India's batting coach Sitanshu Kotak, who engaged in a lengthy conversation with Fortis, allowing Gambhir to resume oversight of his team's training.

(With inputs from agencies.)