England will host the West Indies in three Tests in July, with the tourists arriving in the United Kingdom last week before the opening match on July 8 in Southampton.
Gabriel and Root tangled verbally in an infamous incident, which led to the West Indian receiving a four-match ban. Gabriel is understood to have asked Root: “Why are you smiling? Do you like boys?”
Root’s response was picked up on the stump mic, when he said: “There’s nothing wrong with being gay.”
Gabriel, who has 44 Tests to his name, is pushing to prove his fitness after an ankle injury ahead of the series, but also eager to move on from last year’s controversy.
“I don’t think about it too much, whatever happened or what was said,” Gabriel said.
“I’m just looking forward to the future now, to come out and play good cricket in the series, if selected.
“I just think the way they dealt with it, it was blown way out of proportion.
“The story that was told was not entirely true. But I just want to move on, forget about the past.”
Gabriel added that there were “no hard feelings” between him and Root.
“I have come here to play cricket and whether it’s Joe Root or Ben Stokes or whoever, I’ll try, to the best of my ability, to get them out,” the 32-year-old said.
“It’s not like I’m targeting one player.”
England have named a 30-man training squad ahead of the series, while the tourists have brought a group of 25 players to the United Kingdom.
Gabriel is among 11 of that group who are on standby, although if he proves his fitness, he is likely to come into calculations.