'Serious advantage for India' before Oval Test: Ravichandran Ashwin explains why

India are trailing 1-2 in the five-match series (AFP Photo)

A furious altercation between Gautam Gambhir and Lee Fortis, the Chief Curator of The Oval venue, took place on Tuesday. As it has transpired, both sides have presented their arguments. However, former Indian cricketer R Ashwin questioned the curator's actions and recalled stories from the past in which India had similar heated spats during tours, which raised the team's spirits and allowed them to perform at their highest level.

“I can draw a parallel with Sydney. When we drew the Test in Sydney, there was an uncertainty because we were back in the bubble and the Gabba Test was under scrutiny. (Similarly) England were comfortably ahead in the series until that last Test. Till the last day, we thought the Test series was sealed. But the way that game ended, even if it was a draw, and the conversations it triggered and the press conference… it was fiery,” Ashwin revealed on his YouTube channel.

“When adversity is against the Indian team, somebody will rise up. When we are pushed against the wall, the Indian team becomes a different kettle of fish. It becomes a different beast. That particular thing going into the Test is a serious advantage for India. It may mean nothing if England play good cricket and India don’t end up on the right side, but somehow I feel this is not the way it has to be triggered,” Ashwin added.

A video of Gambhir's irate conversation with Fortis earlier went viral, as did his remark that "you don't tell us what we need to do."

“When we went to see the pitch, we were asked by someone to keep a 2.5-metre distance. This was surprising. The Test would be in a few days and we were wearing joggers. So it felt a bit odd. We all have been on the ground enough, we have played so much cricket. Curators are possessive about the ground and the square but they need to understand that they are speaking to highly skilled and intelligent people.” Indian batting coach Sitanshu Kotak explained in the press conference on the explosive moment.