A heated exchange between India’s head coach Gautam Gambhir and Kennington Oval’s pitch curator Lee Fortis ahead of the fifth Test against England has triggered a wave of reactions, with former Indian cricketer Irfan Pathan voicing strong support for Gambhir. The confrontation, which took place while the Indian team was inspecting the pitch, sparked controversy after a video of the incident circulated widely on social media. Irfan Pathan responded sharply, questioning whether English authorities still view Indians through a colonial lens.

The incident reportedly began when Fortis expressed displeasure over Gambhir and Indian players coming too close to the pitch during their inspection. When Fortis attempted to advise them on how to conduct themselves, Gambhir was visibly upset and responded by asserting that the curator had no right to dictate what he or the team should do.

What further fueled criticism was a set of images that emerged shortly after the confrontation, showing England’s Test coach Brendon McCullum chatting casually with Fortis while standing on the same pitch—without facing any objections. This apparent double standard prompted Irfan Pathan to raise a serious question on social media. In a tweet, he wrote: "So an English coach can walk onto the pitch to inspect it, but an Indian coach can't? Are we still stuck in the colonial era?"

Pathan’s comments highlighted a broader sentiment of frustration over perceived unequal treatment, evoking memories of colonial-era discrimination. His tweet has since ignited debate among cricket fans and experts alike, questioning whether such biases still exist in international cricket’s power structures.

Meanwhile, the tension adds weight to the significance of the final Test. With England leading the series 2-1 and the fourth Test ending in a draw at Manchester, India must win the fifth and final Test to level the series. Under Gambhir’s leadership, Team India will be determined to overcome off-field distractions and focus on securing a crucial victory.