India vs England 5th Test: Massive takeaways from Shubman Gill's press conference ahead of Oval Test

Final Test Against England to Be Played at The Oval

Shubman Gill-led India are scheduled to play the fifth Test match and the final Test of the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy 2025 against England, which is scheduled to start from July 31 at The Oval. England are currently leading 2-1 and the fifth Test match will be the last chance for India to draw the series. 

Gautam Gambhir and Pitch Curator Engage in Heated Exchange*

Ahead of the fourth Test match there was a controversy erupted when the head coach Gautam Gambhir and The Oval's pitch curator, Lee Fortis, got into a serious argument. The incident attracted widespread media attention and sparked debates in the cricketing world regarding the curator’s conduct and the access granted to team officials.
 

Shubman Gill Reacts to the Incident

India captain Shubman Gill also answered on the incident during a pre-match press conference and expressed surprise at the entire situation. He admitted that he didn’t fully understand why the curator argued with the head coach. Gill said he wasn’t present during the incident and was unclear why such a dispute even happened.
 

Gill Questions the Need for the Drama

Gill added that the team had played four matches in the series without any such issues. He emphasised that it is routine for captains and coaches to inspect the pitch before a game and questioned the sudden restrictions. According to him, there was no logical reason for such a commotion just before the final match.

Displeasure Over Being Stopped From Inspecting the Pitch

The Indian captain went on to claim that the curator had told the team officials to inspect the pitch from three meters away, which he said was highly unusual. He mentioned that as long as players wear rubber spikes or are barefoot, they are typically allowed close access to the pitch.

Questions Raised Over Curator’s Behavior

Gill strongly criticized the curator’s approach, pointing out that pitch inspection is a basic responsibility of the team’s leadership. He reiterated that such restrictions had never been imposed before, and questioned the curator’s decision to deny standard access to the pitch.

Update on Jasprit Bumrah’s Availability

Gill also addressed questions regarding Jasprit Bumrah’s participation in the final Test. The star pacer has already featured in three matches of the series. While Gill didn’t confirm Bumrah’s inclusion, he indicated that the team would take a call based on Bumrah’s fitness and availability closer to the match.