Gautam Gambhir Justified in His Argument with The Oval Curator: Parthiv Patel

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Former wicketkeeper Parthiv Patel expressed support for India head coach Gautam Gambhir after a heated exchange with Lee Fortis, Surrey's head of ground staff at The Oval.

The confrontation occurred when Fortis instructed Gambhir to maintain a distance of 2.5 metres from the pitch during India's training session ahead of the final Test match. Parthiv stated, "Gautam had all the right of just losing it," emphasising that inspecting the pitch is a crucial part of a head coach's duties.

Parthiv further commented on the incident, noting that such behaviour from England was not appropriate. He mentioned, "It is on air; it is the entitled behaviour which is obviously not good from England." The altercation saw Gambhir pointing fingers at Fortis, asserting that he had no authority to dictate their actions. Fortis responded by stating his intention to report the matter.

India's Strong Performance in Series

Despite the incident, Parthiv praised the Indian team's performance throughout the series, highlighting their resilience in challenging situations. He expressed confidence in India's ability to level the series 2-2 with the final Test starting on Thursday. "We’ve played really well. Even in tough situations, the team has responded with character," he remarked.

Batting coach Sitanshu Kotak also shared his perspective on the confrontation, describing it as surprising and awkward. He recounted how they were told to stand away from the pitch while wearing joggers, not spikes. Kotak added that Indian players had informed him about Fortis being difficult to work with, but acknowledged his protectiveness over the pitch.

Dhruv Jurel's Potential

With Rishabh Pant injured, Parthiv backed Dhruv Jurel as a suitable replacement. He praised Jurel's past performances against England and expressed confidence in his abilities. "Dhruv Jurel is an equally able player," Parthiv said, acknowledging that while Pant's shoes are hard to fill, Jurel has proven himself capable.