Eng vs ind: irfan pathan calls hypocrisy after the altercation of Gautam Gambir with the oval height curator
The poster at Final test between India and England At the Oval triggered a debate far beyond the races and the counters. What was supposed to be an emphasis on cricket excellence has become accused of tension after the Indian coach Gautam GambirVerbal clash with the chief curator of the oval, Lee Fortis. The incident, resulting from a disagreement on access to the field during training, was captured on video and dominated the discussions, especially after IRFAN PATHANExplosive comments on social networks are wondering if the subcontinental teams are still faced with standards of the colonial era.
A War of Grass at the oval between the height curator and Gautam Gambhir
The seeds of the controversy were sown when Gambir, during an inspection of routine pitch, was invited to strongly by Fortis to stay at least 2.5 meters from the counter. The instruction, delivered while the Indian team wore undamous shoes, angry gambir, which retorted, “You don’t tell us what we have to do». Tensions increased quickly, with the Bâton Coach of India Sitanshu Kotak have to intervene and contain the situation. Gambir videos point to fingers and the support staff carefully observing that the exchange has started to circulate online.
This public spitting brought long-standing frustrations to the treatment of overseas teams during English visits. While Fortis minimized the incident to the press, noting that Gambhir was “A little delicate,“The context was undoubtedly. Such confrontations, in particular on pre-match critical routines such as height assessments, add fuel to the concept that visiting teams are faced with invisible barriers today.
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Irfan Pathan questions the bias of English after the stormy argument of Gambir with the conservative
The incident has taken a sharper advantage when Pathan, the former versatile of India, expressed a powerful criticism on X (formerly Twitter): “So, can an English coach walk on the ground to inspect him? But an Indian coach can’t? Are we still stuck in the colonial era?“Pathan’s words have resonated with a lot, quickly transforming the episode into a lightning rod for broader debates on equality and persistent vestiges of the colonial past of cricket.
Pathan has developed more, stressing that there were photographic evidence of England head coach Brendon McCullum Inspecting the same field with Fortis, without hindrance, while Gambir faced strict restrictions a few days before the match. The underlying suggestion of double standard has struck the house for Indian fans and cricket experts, evoking memories of historical prejudices in sport and causing calls to uniform treatment for all teams, no matter where they turn.
While Tempers cool and the teams refocus for the serial decade test – in India dragging 2-1 but supported by a dramatic draw at Old Trafford – the oval episode remains a striking reminder: Cricket, for all its evolution, can always be shaded by the ghosts of the past. The result of the test can decide which raises the trophy, but the saga of the oval is used to rethink how the spirit of the game is saved, honoring both its competitiveness and its ideals of equity.
So, can an English coach walk on the ground to inspect him? But an Indian coach can’t? Are we still stuck in the colonial era?
– Irfan Pathan (@irfanpathan) July 29, 2025
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