The final Test between India and England hasn’t even started, but it’s already heating up — and not just on the pitch.
A day before the much-anticipated showdown at The Oval, a fiery exchange between India’s coaching staff and the local groundsman has set the tone.
Shubman Gill Defends Coach After Pitch Inspection Clash
Indian captain Shubman Gill didn’t hold back when asked about the confrontation between head coach Gautam Gambhir and Surrey’s head groundsman, Lee Fortis.
Gill made it clear that the drama was, in his words, “absolutely unnecessary.”
Speaking on the incident, he explained, “We’ve been here for almost two months.
It’s totally normal for a coach to want a close look at the wicket.
We weren’t even that close—just around three metres away. So I honestly don’t see the issue.”
Gill emphasized that nothing about the inspection was out of line.
He said players often walk on the square either in rubber-soled shoes or barefoot — something quite standard in cricket.
The Indian squad, he suggested, did nothing wrong.
Groundsman Pushes Back Over Square Use
On the other side, Lee Fortis wasn’t happy with how India approached the pitch.
Sources say he had concerns that members of the Indian squad were stepping on sections of the main square he was trying to preserve.
To make things worse, he reportedly noticed equipment being dragged across the surface during a net session — a major red flag given the Oval has already hosted 60 days of cricket this summer.
Fortis had previously asked England’s own support staff not to drag bags across the field, citing damage risks from boots and wheels.
But when he made a similar request to India, it didn’t go over well.
Gambhir Reportedly Snaps Back at Groundsman
According to reports from Indian media, Gambhir didn’t appreciate Fortis’ intervention and allegedly snapped, “You don’t tell me what to do.”
The exchange turned into a heated spat, with finger-pointing and raised voices — the kind of sideline drama no team wants before a crucial Test.
Fortunately, things calmed down when Indian batting coach Shitanshu Kotak stepped in and handled the situation with a more diplomatic tone.
Old Photos Stir New Confusion
While all of this was unfolding, social media added fuel to the fire.
Images started circulating showing England coach Brendon McCullum standing near the pitch.
But before the conspiracy theories could take off, it was clarified that those photos were actually from two years ago — not recent.
India Preps for Decisive Fifth Test
With the fourth Test at Old Trafford ending in a draw, India still has everything to play for.
The fifth and final match of the series kicks off Thursday, and while players are focused on the cricket, this Oval pitch saga has already drawn plenty of attention.
As of now, it seems both sides are moving on, but the tension on and off the field might just make this final clash even more intense.
