Parthiv Patel Supports Gambhir After Clash with The Oval Staff

New Delhi, Jul 30 (PTI) – Former wicketkeeper Parthiv Patel expressed his support for India head coach Gautam Gambhir after a heated exchange with Surrey's head of ground staff, Lee Fortis, at The Oval on Wednesday.

Gambhir was involved in a confrontation with Fortis when Fortis instructed him to maintain a distance of 2.5 meters from the pitch during a training session ahead of the fifth and final Test. This incident led Parthiv, speaking at the launch of the Outer Delhi Warriors’ jersey, to comment on the matter.

“It’s unfortunate that such an incident occurred,” Parthiv stated. “However, Gautam was well within his rights to react the way he did. As a head coach, it's essential to inspect the pitch, and it’s not reasonable to prevent that. The behavior observed from the English side was entitled and not ideal.”

The altercation on Tuesday saw Gambhir assertively telling Fortis, “You don’t tell any of us what we need to do. You have no right, you are just a groundsman, nothing beyond.” To which Fortis replied, “I will have to report this.”

India’s batting coach Sitanshu Kotak also recounted the incident, indicating past difficulties with the ground staff at this venue. “When we went to assess the wicket, someone approached us saying we had to stand 2.5 meters away, which was surprising. We were in joggers, not spikes, and it felt unusual. I've never witnessed such behavior,” Kotak commented.

Kotak further mentioned feedback from players who had remarked that Fortis was “not the easiest person to work with.” Nonetheless, India’s resilience throughout the series was acknowledged by Parthiv, with the final Test approaching on Thursday.

“We’ve shown character and played well despite challenges. India has a genuine chance of leveling the series 2-2,” Parthiv noted, also expressing confidence in Dhruv Jurel’s abilities as a replacement for the injured Rishabh Pant.

“Dhruv Jurel is capable. He’s proven himself during the home series against England. While Rishabh Pant's shoes are hard to fill, Dhruv possesses the aptitude to represent India,” Parthiv stated.

Currently serving as a mentor in the Delhi Premier League for the Outer Delhi Warriors, Parthiv spoke on his passion for nurturing young talent. “Helping in someone’s journey is profoundly satisfying. Many players have advanced from this stage to the IPL, achieving success in domestic tournaments,” he shared, commending players like Priyansh Arya and Suyash Sharma.

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