Team India’s Head Coach, Gautam Gambhir, was involved in a fiery verbal confrontation with The Oval’s pitch curator, Lee Fortis, during a team practice session in London on Tuesday. The heated incident, captured on video, comes just days before the crucial fifth and final Test against England, with India trailing the series 1-2.
The argument reportedly erupted while Indian players were practicing in the nets. A video released by the Press Trust of India (PTI) shows an incensed Gambhir gesturing and arguing with Fortis. According to reporters present, India’s batting coach, Sitanshu Kotak, also joined the discussion, speaking firmly with the curator.
While the specific trigger for the dispute remains unclear, it is believed that a comment from Fortis, who was observing the practice session, provoked the Indian coach. The exchange quickly escalated, with The Times of India reporting that the ground staff threatened to file a formal complaint against Gambhir.
Gambhir was heard delivering sharp retorts to the curator. “You don’t tell me what to do. You don’t tell us what to do,” Gambhir said during the spat. “You’re just a groundsman. Nothing beyond that.”
He also reportedly challenged the staff to proceed with any complaint, saying, “Go report whatever you want, f**k off!”
The incident has drawn significant attention on social media, with many fans voicing support for Gambhir. Some users pointed out that the curator has an alleged history of confrontations with visiting teams, while others framed the tension within the context of home-team advantage, comparing England’s seamer-friendly pitches to India’s spin-friendly tracks. The confrontation has added another layer of intensity to what is already a highly anticipated series decider, set to begin on July 31.
