Fiery Pitch Dispute: Gambhir vs. Fortis at The Oval

In a dramatic confrontation at The Oval, India head coach Gautam Gambhir clashed with Surrey's head of ground staff, Lee Fortis, over pitch inspection access. Gambhir was infuriated after Fortis instructed him to stand 2.5 meters away from the pitch during a training session.

Former Indian wicketkeeper Parthiv Patel defended Gambhir's reaction, stating that a head coach must inspect the pitch without interference. He criticized the protective stance by the ground staff as entitled behavior. This incident unfolded as India prepared for the final Test match against England, aiming to level the series at 2-2.

Parthiv also expressed confidence in the Indian team's resilience and praised the likely inclusion of Dhruv Jurel in place of the injured Rishabh Pant. He highlighted the potential of young players like Priyansh Arya and Suyash Sharma, emphasizing their achievements in domestic tournaments and IPL performances.

(With inputs from agencies.)