India’s batting coach Sitanshu Kotak dismissed claims that head coach Gautam Gambhir is under pressure ahead of the fifth Test against England at The Oval. While acknowledging that the coaching staff is naturally disappointed with the team trailing 1-2 in the series, Kotak maintained that Gambhir isn’t feeling any heat.
Gambhir has been visibly involved during the England tour, often expressing his views with intensity. After the drawn fourth Test in Manchester, he gave an impassioned press conference. More recently, on Tuesday, July 29, he had a disagreement with The Oval’s pitch curator, Lee Fortis.
During Tuesday’s press conference, Kotak was asked whether Gambhir was starting to feel the weight of the series deficit. Responding calmly, Kotak refuted the suggestion.
“I don’t think so. I think it has been a very competitive series and both the teams, to be fair to England also, have played really well. The first Test and the Lord’s Test also could have gone either way. All the Test matches went to the fifth day. It has been an absolutely brilliant Test series so far. Gautam is someone I have never seen under pressure from his playing days to now.”
“Definitely not under pressure and we wish we would have won the Lord’s game and gone 2-1 up. But, that’s not pressure. That’s just going back and thinking if we could have done something different. That’s nothing about taking pressure,” the 52-year-old went on to add.
Kotak Stands By Gambhir Following Argument With Oval Pitch Curator
Sitanshu Kotak faced several questions at Tuesday’s press conference regarding the exchange between Gautam Gambhir and pitch curator Lee Fortis. To his credit, the former Saurashtra player responded with composure and professionalism. He stood by Gambhir, justifying his reaction and offering an explanation.
“Literally, he [Fortis] was saying, ‘you go outside the ropes’ to the head coach and see the wicket. In my cricketing career, I have never seen anyone saying that. It was a strange way of saying you stand away from the wicket. That is what started it. Gautam is someone who doesn’t speak unnecessary things. He doesn’t talk to anyone.”
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