‘Gautam Gambhir could have used better language’- Matthew Hayden Comments on Gautam Gambhir’s Clash with Oval Curator

Gautam Gambhir silenced his critics by leading a young and relatively inexperienced Indian side to an impressive 2-2 draw in the five-match Test series against England.

Before the tour, many doubted India’s chances, especially with England boasting a strong squad and the advantage of familiar home conditions. Expectations were low, but the team showed remarkable grit and determination throughout the series.

Shubman Gill and his teammates displayed fearless cricket, matching England’s intensity at every stage. The series reached its peak in the final Test at The Oval, where India won by just six runs, leveling the series and sending a powerful message to their opponents.

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Mathew Hyden Talked About Gautam Gambhir’s Behaviour:

Before the fifth Test, India’s head coach Gautam Gambhir was involved in a heated exchange with Oval curator Lee Fortis during a practice session. The conflict started when Fortis asked the Indian coaches to keep 2.5 metres away from the main pitch square, despite them wearing appropriate footwear like joggers or rubber-spiked shoes.

This directive did not sit well with the Indian camp, leading to visible frustration. Gambhir, unable to hold back his emotions, confronted the curator and voiced his displeasure over the matter. Gambhir said, “ You don't tell any of us what we need to do... you have no right to tell us. You are just a groundsman, nothing beyond.”

Experienced Australian cricketer Matthew Hayden shared his own experiences dealing with pitch curators and supported Gautam Gambhir’s perspective. Hayden noted that while Gambhir’s frustration was understandable, he could have managed the situation more calmly by using more thoughtful language during the disagreement.

Hayden said, “ I used to sit in the middle and meditate. And, often there would not be a person that would not come up to me and tell me to move. They (curators) can get pretty protective around the surface. This is a typical case in England. It is a bit of a flex, here we are, final Test match, this is my venue, and they are going to try and make it difficult on Gautam Gambhir. But I think he's got every right to tone it down. He could have used better language. But the reality is, his team is trying to train ahead of the most important Test match.”

On the same day, England’s star batter Joe Root and stand-in captain Ollie Pope were seen shadow batting on the match pitch.

Former Australian all-rounder Greg Blewett, discussing the incident, called it ridiculous. He agreed with Matthew Hayden that while Gambhir’s frustration was understandable, he could have handled the situation with more restraint.

He said, “ I agree. Even now, even as a commentator, you get near the pitch and everyone is saying you can't get anywhere near it and you're like I haven't got spikes on. It is quite ridiculous. I get the frustration. But I agree that the language that he used wasn't great. If he reflects, he could have probably handled it a little better.”