IND vs ENG: Day After Oval Controversy, Pitch Curator Tells Gambhir and Gill to Keep Distance
Tensions rise as Gambhir clashes with Oval curator over pitch access before India-England fifth Test
Just two days before the fifth Test at The Oval, a tense exchange unfolded between Team India and the ground’s head curator, Lee Fortis. The confrontation began when India’s head coach Gautam Gambhir was stopped from inspecting the pitch.
According to reports, Gambhir was involved in a sharp exchange with Fortis after being denied access. The Indian coach pointed a finger and said something during the face-off. Batting coach Sitanshu Kotak quickly stepped in to calm things down and briefly spoke with Fortis.
The situation didn’t end there. On Wednesday, Fortis again approached Gambhir, Kotak, and opener Shubman Gill as they stood near the pitch. He asked the trio to move away. They shifted slightly toward the edge of the strip, but the exchange continued.
Watch The Video Here
When Lee Fortis met Gautam Gambhir again…pic.twitter.com/rw9JLgqD8N
— Sandipan Banerjee (@im_sandipan) July 30, 2025
Kotak once again played peacemaker, taking the lead in easing tensions. Assistant coach Ryan ten Doeschate was also seen speaking with Fortis as Gambhir continued to voice his views.
Fortis later told the media, “It is not my job to be happy with him. I think you have to ask him.”
Later that day, Kotak and other members of India’s coaching staff were seen speaking to an English official near the pitch area, likely explaining their side of the story.
The incident adds to the growing tension ahead of the high-stakes final Test, with the series on the line. While such access disputes are not new in international cricket, the public nature of the exchange and the viral video have put the spotlight firmly on pitch protocol and treatment of visiting teams.
