Gautam Gambhir engaged in a heated exchange with curator Lee Fortis over restricted pitch access, accusing him of showing double standards after allowing England’s coach to inspect the surface without objection.
Tension Over Pitch Access Sparks Pre-Test Drama
The build-up to the fifth and final Test between India and England at The Oval took a dramatic twist after a heated exchange between India head coach Gautam Gambhir and Surrey’s chief curator, Lee Fortis. The confrontation occurred during India’s training session on Tuesday and sparked controversy over what appeared to be a double standard in treatment.
According to Indian batting coach Sitanshu Kotak, the issue began when Fortis asked the Indian coaching staff to stand 2.5 metres away from the pitch during their inspection—an unusual and unexpected directive.
“It was a bit surprising,” Kotak said. “A day before a Test match, we were simply observing the surface in joggers, not spikes. I’ve never seen anything like that in my life.”
The matter escalated after it emerged that Fortis reportedly raised no objections when England head coach Brendon McCullum and ECB managing director Rob Key inspected the same pitch a day earlier, dressed casually. This perceived inconsistency has raised eyebrows and intensified scrutiny ahead of the high-stakes clash.
#WATCH | London, UK: Head Coach of England's men's Test Cricket team, Brendon McCullum and the Oval’s chief curator, Lee Fortis, seen 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 pic.twitter.com/WhetK0gwfe
Kotak further highlighted the inconsistency in Fortis’s approach, noting, “That’s what made it awkward. England’s staff came in the day before in casual clothes and nobody told them where to stand or not stand.” The perceived discrepancy has raised questions and intensified scrutiny ahead of the high-stakes clash.
What Sparked the Gambhir-Fortis Flashpoint
The build-up to the fifth and final Test between India and England at The Oval took a fiery turn after a confrontation between India head coach Gautam Gambhir and Surrey’s chief curator, Lee Fortis. What began as a disagreement over pitch access quickly escalated into a full-blown standoff that highlighted alleged double standards and disrespect toward the Indian team.
According to batting coach Sitanshu Kotak, tensions flared when Fortis asked the Indian coaching staff to stand 2.5 metres away from the pitch during their inspection—an unusual directive given they wore joggers and not spikes. Kotak expressed surprise: “A day before a Test match, we were simply observing the surface. I’ve never seen anything like that in my life.” He further pointed out the inconsistency, noting that England’s staff had inspected the pitch the day before in casual clothes without any such restrictions. “That’s what made it awkward,” Kotak said.
The situation worsened when Fortis reportedly shouted at an Indian support staff member for bringing a 10-kilo cooling box near the main square, despite no visible threat to the surface. This public rebuke angered Gambhir, who snapped: “You don’t tell any of us what we need to do, you have no right to tell us, you are just a groundsman, nothing beyond.” Fortis responded tersely: “I will have to report this.”
Kotak, who stepped in to calm matters, later explained: “Gautam just said, ‘Don’t talk to our support staff like that.’ It’s natural for any head coach to step in when someone talks down to the team.”
He also criticized Fortis’s overly defensive stance, saying, “It’s a cricket pitch, not an antique.” Emphasizing professionalism, Kotak added, “Curators need to understand they’re dealing with highly skilled, intelligent professionals. We’re extremely careful around the pitch. No one had spikes on, and nothing was damaged. You can be protective—but not to the point of arrogance.”