Vengsarkar slams Hayden's comment on Gambhir's spat with Oval curator: 'If this had happened to the Aussies...'

Former India captain Dilip Vengsarkar disagreed with ex-Australian opener Matthew Hayden’s comment on the recent spat between Gautam Gambhir and The Oval curator Lee Fortis , saying the Australian team would have had a similar response had they been told to stay away from the pitch ahead of a crucial game.

India head coach Gambhir and Fortis made headlines for getting into a heated exchange ahead of the fifth and final Test between England and India at The Oval. Gambhir was heard describing him as
“just a groundsman” in an animated discussion with the Oval curator during a practice session after the visitors were instructed to stand 2.5 metres away from the pitch.

And Australian batting legend Hayden felt that while it was a “typical case in England”, Gambhir “could have used better language” in his exchange with Fortis.

‘Aussies would have used choicest words to show curator his place’

Batting great Vengsarkar, however, not only pointed out that the Australians would have had a similar response upon receiving such an instruction from the curator, he also cited the freedom that visiting teams and even media personnel have when it comes to inspecting the wicket in India.

“As the head coach of the Indian team, Gambhir had every right to see the pitch from close quarters. When teams tour India, their entire squad, not just the captain and coach, examines the pitch minutely. Even their media inspect the pitch before the match. No one tells them anything. So, how are the rules different when we are playing in England?” Vengsarkar told Mumbai Mirror in response to Hayden’s comment.

“Would Hayden, or any of the Aussie cricketers, take it well if a curator had asked them to stay away from the square ahead of an important match? If this had happened to the Aussies, they would have used the choicest words to show the curator his place,” he added.

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The Gambhir-Fortis incident remained a major talking point in the build-up to and on the opening day of the series finale at The Oval, and was gradually forgotten over the course of the next five days as India triumphed in a nail-biter against England to level the series 2-2.