Cricket

“It will happen in the future too” - Sourav Ganguly opens up on Gambhir-Fortis controversy

Sourav Ganguly weighs in on the Oval pitch spat between Gautam Gambhir and curator Lee Fortis, calling it part of cricket’s evolving landscape. Ganguly says such incidents are inevitable and praises Gambhir’s passion and transparency as head coach.

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Sourav Ganguly opens up on Gambhir-Fortis controversy

Former Indian captain Sourav Ganguly has opened up on the Gautam Gambhir and Lee Fortis incident, stating that he wasn’t exactly sure why the Indian head coach was upset ahead of the fifth and final Test against England.

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Moving into the details of the incident, Gautam Gambhir yelled at the Oval chief curator, Fortis, who stopped the Indian support staff from having a look at the pitch two days before the start of the fifth Test.

While Fortis requested the Indian support staff to maintain a 2.5m gap away from the surface, it didn’t go down well with Gambhir, who lashed out at the curator for instructing his team to stay away from the wicket.

"You stop it. You don't tell us what we need to do. You don't tell us what we need to do, okay. You don't need to tell us. You don't tell any of my squad what we need to do. You have no right to tell us. You're just a groundsman, you stay in your capacity. You are just a groundsman, nothing beyond. You are just a groundsman,” Gambhir yelled at Fortis.

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Reacting to this incident, Ganguly stated that most of the captains and coaches will have discussions with groundsmen across the world, adding that sometimes they might end on an unhappy note. However, he asserted that the focus should be on India levelling the series, cutting the outside noise.

"I do not know why Gambhir was upset. I am sure all captains and coaches have had discussions with the groundsmen, sometimes happily, sometimes unhappily. It happened in my time, it will happen in the future too. Let us not just make too much out of it. Hope India plays well and levels the series,” Sourav Ganguly said as quoted by TOI.

At stumps on Day 1 of the fifth Test, India were reeling down at 204/6 in 64 overs with Karun Nair batting on 52* and Washington Sundar on 19*.

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