Pitch Battle: Gambhir vs. Curator Clash at The Oval

In a dramatic turn of events, India's head coach Gautam Gambhir engaged in a heated exchange with The Oval's chief curator, Lee Fortis, ahead of a pivotal Test match against England. The disagreement arose during a training session when Fortis allegedly instructed Indian staff to stand 2.5 meters from the pitch.

Gambhir, visibly upset, rebuffed the curator's instructions, stating that Fortis had overstepped his role. India's batting coach, Sitanshu Kotak, intervened to calm the situation, describing Fortis as difficult to work with despite his award-winning reputation.

The incident prompted widespread media interest, although Fortis remained tight-lipped about the altercation. The episode underscored the ongoing tensions between the Indian team and The Oval's groundstaff, with both sides standing firm on their protocols.

(With inputs from agencies.)