Shubman Gill Inspects Oval Pitch Amid Tension Between Gambhir and Curator; Green Surface Likely to Aid Pacers

As the fifth and final Test match between India and England approaches at Kennington Oval, all eyes are not just on the teams but also on the pitch — especially after a confrontation between Indian head coach Gautam Gambhir and the ground’s pitch curator, Lee Curtis Fortis. Days before the match, Gambhir had publicly reprimanded the curator after he reportedly restricted India’s coaching staff from accessing the pitch, sparking a brief controversy.

Now, a video has surfaced showing Indian captain Shubman Gill closely inspecting the Oval pitch a day before the match. In the clip, Gill can be seen kneeling down on the pitch, touching its surface with focus and intent — all while wearing his spikes. Interestingly, pitch curator Fortis was standing nearby but didn’t intervene this time, in stark contrast to his earlier behavior that led to the spat with Gambhir.

Speaking about the surface, Gill observed that the Oval pitch is quite different from the ones used in the previous four Tests. He described it as significantly greener, suggesting that it could offer notable assistance to the fast bowlers. This assessment is echoed in England’s team selection, which features no specialist spinner and instead includes pacers like Woakes, Gus Atkinson, Josh Tongue, and Craig Overton. Regulars like Ben Stokes and Jofra Archer have been left out — Stokes due to a shoulder injury and Archer reportedly being rested.

On India’s side, the bowling combination is likely to be influenced heavily by the pitch conditions. Shardul Thakur might get a place in the XI, while Arshdeep Singh could feature if Jasprit Bumrah is unavailable. Mohammad Siraj is expected to lead the pace attack, and Akash Deep might return to the lineup. As for the spin department, Kuldeep Yadav is unlikely to be picked for this match.

While the final playing XI will be confirmed at the toss, Shubman Gill’s thorough pitch assessment suggests India is preparing for a pace-friendly battle. With the spotlight on both teams and the added drama of the Gambhir-curator standoff, the final Test at the Oval promises to be intense — both on and off the field.