Indian spin great R Ashwin appeared to take a subtle jab at The Oval’s pitch curator, Lee Fortis, following a heated exchange between Fortis and Team India’s head coach ahead of the final Test of the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy against England. Reports indicate that Gautam Gambhir became visibly upset after India’s support staff were instructed to maintain a distance of 2.5 meters from the pitch.
A video circulating on social media on Tuesday, July 29, captured Gautam Gambhir confronting Fortis. Ashwin suggested this wasn’t an isolated incident, implying that Fortis has a history of similar behavior. He further noted that England may have used the situation to deflect pressure going into the high-stakes match. In his latest YouTube video ‘Ash ki Baat’ (at 14:47), the former India cricketer said:
“I will not talk about what was said or what was discussed between the two parties. England were under a lot of pressure. This incident was a vehicle to release pressure.”
“I know that groundsman really well, and this is not the first time this has happened. He is a bit like that and has done similar things in the past as well. Why does he do it? I don’t know. He is a bit different.”
R Ashwin expresses disappointment over Ben Stokes’ omission from Oval Test XI
England skipper Ben Stokes will miss the decisive fifth Test of the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy due to a shoulder injury, ruling out the influential all-rounder from the contest. Reacting to the news, R Ashwin shared his disappointment, noting that Stokes’ absence is a major setback for fans.
The 38-year-old said in his video (at 0:39) that it is disappointing for viewers not to see a player like Stokes in such an important match.
“I am quite disappointed with it (Stokes not playing), actually. We discussed so much about him, and I made two-three points about him. There was a lot of pressure on England leading up to this game. As a cricket fan and someone who likes the entertainment that it provides, I am quite disappointed with the proceedings. A player like Ben Stokes being ruled out for the decider is huge news. It is great news for India.”
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