The lead-up to the final Test between India and England at The Oval has ignited a debate far beyond runs and wickets. What was supposed to be a focus on cricketing excellence became charged with tension after Indian head coach Gautam Gambhir’s verbal clash with The Oval’s chief curator, Lee Fortis. The incident, resulting from a disagreement over access to the pitch during practice, was captured on video and dominated discussions, especially after Irfan Pathan’s explosive social media comment questioning if subcontinental teams still face colonial-era double standards.

A turf war at The Oval between the Pitch curator and Gautam Gambhir

The seeds of controversy were sown when Gambhir, during a routine pitch inspection, was loudly instructed by Fortis to remain at least 2.5 meters away from the wicket. The instruction, delivered as the Indian team was wearing non-damaging footwear, unnerved Gambhir, who retorted, “You don’t tell us what we need to do”. Tensions escalated quickly, with India’s batting coach Sitanshu Kotak having to step in and contain the situation. Videos of Gambhir pointing fingers and the support staff intently observing the exchange began circulating online.

This public spat brought to the surface long-standing frustrations about the treatment of overseas teams during English tours. While Fortis minimized the incident to the press, noting Gambhir was “a bit touchy,” the context was unmistakable. Such confrontations, particularly over critical pre-match routines like pitch assessments, add fuel to the notion that visiting teams face invisible barriers even today.

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Irfan Pathan questions English biasness following Gambhir’s heated argument with curator

The incident took on a sharper edge when Pathan, former India all-rounder, voiced a powerful critique on X (formerly Twitter): “So an English coach can walk onto the pitch to inspect it? But an Indian coach can’t? Are we still stuck in the colonial era?” Pathan’s words resonated with many, quickly turning the episode into a lightning rod for broader debates on equality and the lingering vestiges of cricket’s colonial past.

Pathan elaborated further, pointing out that there was photographic evidence of England’s head coach Brendon McCullum inspecting the very same pitch with Fortis, unimpeded, while Gambhir faced strict restrictions days before the match. The underlying suggestion of double standards hit home for Indian fans and cricketing pundits alike, evoking memories of historical bias in sport and sparking calls for uniform treatment for all teams, regardless of where they tour.

As tempers cool and the teams refocus for the series-deciding Test—India trailing 2-1 but buoyed by a dramatic draw at Old Trafford—the Oval episode remains a stark reminder: cricket, for all its evolution, can still be shadowed by the ghosts of the past. The outcome of the Test may decide who lifts the trophy, but the saga at The Oval serves as a call to rethink how the spirit of the game is safeguarded, honoring both its competitiveness and its ideals of fairness.

So an English coach can walk onto the pitch to inspect it? but an Indian coach can’t? Are we still stuck in the colonial era?

— Irfan Pathan (@IrfanPathan) July 29, 2025

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