Two days ahead of the series-deciding fifth Test between India and England, a huge row brewed involving the visiting head coach Gautam Gambhir and the chief Oval curator Lee Fortis.

During India’s training session, Gambhir had a heated argument with Fortis after being told to stay two and a half meters away when he was inspecting the pitch.

Coaches and captains usually take a look at the surface in the days leading up to a Test to fine-tune their plans and team combinations.

Reacting to the episode, former India spinner Ravichandran Ashwin revealed that the Oval curator is a habitual offender. 

"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.

The curator had reportedly asked the Indian coaching staff to maintain a distance from the main pitch square despite them wearing joggers or shoes with rubber spikes, prompting frustration from Gambhir.

The India head coach was heard saying, "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.”

The flare-up at the Oval has certainly added a new layer of drama in the series. The Shubman Gill-led side is currently 1-2 behind in the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy but has a golden opportunity to draw level in the finale.

On a rain-curtailed opening day at the Oval, India reached 204/6 after being asked to bat first. Only 64 overs of play was possible due to multiple rain interruptions.