“He is a bit different” - Ravi Ashwin opens up on Gautam Gambhir and Lee Fortis controversy

Former Indian spinner and analyst Ravi Ashwin has opened up on Gautam Gambhir and Lee Fortis, who were involved in a heated altercation days before the start of the fifth and final Test at The Oval in London.

Delving into the details of the incident, Gambhir lashed at the Oval chief curator, Fortis, who stopped the Indian support staff from taking a look at the pitch two days before the start of the fifth Test in London.

While Fortis ordered the Indian support staff to maintain at least a 2.5m gap away from the pitch, it didn’t go down well with Gambhir, who yelled at the curator and told him to stay in his capacity. 

"You stop it. You don't tell us what we need to do. You don't tell us what we need to do, okay. You don't need to tell us. You don't tell any of my squad what we need to do. You have no right to tell us. You're just a groundsman, you stay in your capacity. You are just a groundsman, nothing beyond. You are just a groundsman,” Gambhir told Fortis.

Now, Ashwin, on his YouTube channel, has revealed this isn’t the first time this has happened, as Fortis had done similar things in the past as well, adding that the Oval curator is a bit different from others. Also, Ashwin backed Gambhir in the whole fiasco.

"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," Ashwin said on his YouTube channel.

"How can you tell the captain and coach, who are wearing rubber soles. This will add to the flavour. A little bit of needle going into the Test match. It will really help,” he added.

Moreover, Ashwin stated his disappointment over the English skipper Ben Stokes missing out on the final Test due to a shoulder injury, adding that it would be great news for India as Stokes and Root have played a crucial role in the five-match series.

"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," Ashwin said.

"Ben Stokes and Joe Root are the only two people who have kept England alive in this series. If you leave aside the first Test, where Ben Duckett played a fabulous knock, but after that defeat at Edgbaston, it was Root and Stokes who stood up when it mattered," Ashwin concluded.

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