ENG vs IND 2025: ‘This is not how you want to play against India’ – R Ashwin explains how Gambhir vs curator spat could give Gill and Co. advantage

Ravichandran Ashwin believes that the heated altercation between head coach Gautam Gambhir and the pitch curator Lee Fortis on Tuesday, July 29, at The Oval, venue for the fifth and final Test match, could work as a shot in the arm for India as they look to level the five-match series against England.

Fortis asked Gambhir and Co. to stay away from the pitch, which is set to host the two long-standing rivals in the sport in the fifth Test, from Thursday, July 31. This didn’t sit well with Gambhir as he was seen reminding Fortis about his position.

Ashwin recalled that in the years gone by, such run-ins had inadvertently unlocked a much more vicious side to the Indian team.

“After all that, when I saw the video of that fight today, I am thinking, ‘Boss, what are you guys doing?’ This is not how you want to play against this Indian team. I have always seen that when adversity strikes the Indian team, however it may be, someone will rise up. When things are not going right, or when we are pushed against the wall, the Indian team is a different kettle of fish; it becomes a different beast,” Ashwin said in a video uploaded on his YouTube channel.

“I think that particular thing, going into this Test match, is a serious advantage for India. Maybe this will mean nothing if England play good cricket and India don’t end up on the right side, but somehow I have a feeling that this is not the way it has to be triggered,” said Ashwin.

When that Monkeygate incident happened, you saw how we played in the next Test: R Ashwin

Ashwin pointed out several incidents in India’s cricket history, like the infamous monkeygate saga, where the team bounced back brilliantly and secured monumental victories. The legendary off-spinner feels that such an incident will inspire Shubman Gill and Co. ahead of the crucial match.

“When such an incident occurs, those sleeping beasts, the individually brilliant players, will come together. I have seen that many times. You look at any kind of adversity. When that Monkeygate incident happened, you saw how we played in the next Test. Look at what happened at the Gabba, look at what happened at the Lord’s, where Virat said, ’60 overs of hell’. It galvanises the team,” said Ashwin.

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