“What else are you expecting?” - Parthiv Patel slams pitch curator Lee Fortis; backs Gautam Gambhir

Former Indian wicketkeeper-batter Parthiv Patel has defended the Indian head coach Gautam Gambhir, who got involved in a heated altercation with the Oval pitch curator Lee Fortis ahead of the fifth Test, scheduled to start on Thursday, July 31.

Speaking to PTI Videos, Parthiv stated that the head coach had every right to inspect the pitch ahead of the match. Notably, Fortis wanted the Indian staff to maintain 2.5m distance from the pitch, which didn’t go down well with Gambhir, who yelled at the curator.

“You don’t tell any of us what we need to do… you are just a groundsman, nothing beyond,” Gambhir yelled at Fortis on Tuesday, July 29.

“It’s unfortunate that this kind of incident has happened. But Gautam had all the right to just lose it. As a curator, obviously, you can’t go and ask someone not to inspect the pitch,” Parthiv told PTI Videos.

“That’s the head coach’s role. What else are you expecting? If a head coach won’t go and inspect the pitch, that’s not possible at all,” Parthiv added. 

Furthermore, Parthiv is confident of the Indian team, led by Shubman Gill, to continue their dominance and level the series 2-2. He also asserted that Dhruv Jurel would be keen to do well in Rishabh Pant’s absence.

“We’ve played really well. Even in tough situations, the team has responded with character. India has been great throughout the series and definitely has a strong chance of making it 2-2.”

“Dhruv Jurel is an equally able player. We’ve seen what he’s done in the home series last year against England. Obviously, you can’t fill in the shoes of Rishabh Pant. But Dhruv has shown he’s a capable player to represent India,” he concluded.

India will clash against England in the fifth and final Test at the Oval in London.

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