Two days before the series-deciding fifth Test of the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy at The Oval, a heated confrontation between India’s head coach Gautam Gambhir and The Oval’s chief curator, Lee Fortis, has added a new level of drama to what was already a high-pressure contest. The altercation happened during India’s first training session on Tuesday as preparations were intense for the final match in the series.
What Happened Between Gautam Gambhir And Pitch Curator?
Tensions ran high when Fortis apparently confronted Gambhir for using a particular practice area, according to a PTI report. He even said “It’s a big game, and he (Gambhir) is a bit touchy.” Eyewitnesses present at the ground reported that Fortis threatened, “I will have to report this,” to which Gambhir responded with alacrity, “Go ahead, report whatever you want.” The exchange of words heated up very quickly and soon caught the attention of support staff, including India’s batting coach Sitanshu Kotak, who intervened to cool down the situation before things got further out of hand.
Situation Gets Heated Between Gambhir And Lee Fortis
“No, I don’t wanna say anything,” Fortis said. “Quite a big game coming up, isn’t it?”
“It’s not my job to be happy or not with him,” Fortis said. “I don’t know about him. I’ve never met him before. I don’t know, he must have played here. You saw what he was like this morning. You saw it.”
The exchange, in part captured on tape and now circulating on social media, had the two visibly upset before they finally walked off in opposite directions Gambhir back to mind the nets and Fortis off the field. Reporters present tried to elicit a response from Fortis after the altercation, but he said nothing.
#WATCH | London, UK: Indian team's Head coach Gautam Gambhir was seen having a heated conversation with the Oval Pitch Curator, at The Oval Cricket Ground in London, ahead of the last Test match of the series starting 31st July.
— ANI (@ANI) July 29, 2025
England is leading the series 2-1 against India pic.twitter.com/L7oizszewN
“You can’t tell us what to do. You are just one of the groundsmen, nothing beyond.” At one point, he also said, “You don’t tell us what we need to do.” Gautam Gambhir said
“We won’t damage anything.” Morne Morkel said
Gautam Gambhir’s Dissatisfaction With The Pitch
Team sources said the split was likely due to Fortis’ dissatisfaction with the condition of some practice strips and how the team was using them, which Gambhir allegedly felt was too restrictive and disrespectful towards the Indian support staff. Batting coach Kotak later intimated that Fortis was perhaps being “overprotective” about the field conditions, which did not go down well with the Indian head coach.
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Sitanshu Kotak On The Argument
“When we were looking at the pitch. They had sent a man to send a message for us to stay 2.5 m away from the pitch. This was a little surprising. We were wearing joggers. It was quite awkward. We know curators are a little overprotective and possessive about the square and the ground. What he said about the head coach is his opinion, and I don’t want to comment,” Kotak told reporters in the post-match press conference.
“There is nothing wrong with looking at a wicket wearing rubber spikes. Curators need to understand that the people they’re talking to are highly skilled and intelligent. When you are working with highly skilled and intelligent people, if you sound a bit arrogant or if you come across like you know you can be protective, but at the end of the day, it’s a cricket pitch, it’s not some antique piece that you cannot touch because it is 200 years old and it will be broken,” he added.
India To Play The 5th Test At The Oval
The Oval will host the last Test from Thursday with England having a 2-1 advantage and India seeking to level the series at 2-2 after their hard-fought comeback in Manchester. Although no official statements have come from either the BCCI or the ECB, the clash has only added to the charged environment around what promises to be a volatile series clincher.
