During India's training session on Tuesday, Fortis reportedly asked the Indian coaching staff to stay 2.5 metres away from the main pitch square, despite them wearing joggers or rubber spiked shoes, prompting frustration from the Indian camp. When Gill was asked about the tiff, the skipper replied "What happened yesterday was unnecessary."
Shubman Gill, Gautam Gambhir seen engaging in a heated verbal spat with Lee Fortis (not in picture)/Pic: AFP/Screengrab/x
Captain Shubman Gill backed head coach Gautam Gambhir following his angry outburst with The Oval's chief curator Lee Fortis on Tuesday, adding that the Indian coach is well within his rights to inspect the square.
During India's training session on Tuesday, Fortis reportedly asked the Indian coaching staff to stay 2.5 metres away from the main pitch square, despite them wearing joggers or rubber spiked shoes, prompting frustration from the Indian camp.
Gambhir was heard saying "You don't tell any of us what we need to do" you have no right to tell us. You are just a groundsman, nothing beyond." Fortis responded by saying, 'I will have to report this'.
When Gill was asked about the tiff on the eve of the final Test, the skipper replied "What happened yesterday was unnecessary."
"Coach has every right to look at the wicket. Don't understand why curator won't allow that. As long you are wearing rubber spike or are bare feet (it should not be a problem) ....don't know why he said no. There was no such issue in the last four games," he added.
Incidentally on the day, leading English players like batting mainstay Joe Root and strand-in skipper Ollie Pope were found standing on the match pitch doing shadow batting.
India batting coach Sitanshu Kotak, who was also seen having a word with Fortis during the altercation, later went on to claim that the visitors knew the ground staff at this venue wasn't the ‘easiest to work with’.
“When we went to take a look at the wicket the coaches were there, someone came to us and said 'stand 2.5 metres away', which was little surprising. Day after there is a Test match, we had our joggers on not spikes and it felt a bit awkward. I have never seen anything like that in my life,” Kotak told the media.
"The Indian players had told me that he is not the easiest person to work with. It's okay to be protective and possessive about this pitch but not to this extent," he added.
(With inputs from PTI)
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