Ahead of the fifth and final Test between India and England at The Oval, India head coach Gautam Gambhir locked horns with the ground’s chief pitch curator, Lee Fortis, during a practice session on July 29. A video circulated widely showing Gambhir visibly angry, repeatedly pointing his finger and declaring: “You don’t tell us what we need to do… You are just a groundsman.” 

The curator reportedly warned that he could escalate the matter, to which Gambhir retorted, “You can go and report to whoever you want, but you can’t tell us what to do.” Batting coach Sitanshu Kotak intervened to calm the situation, separating Gambhir and Fortis after tensions escalated. Indian team support staff also stepped in to defuse the confrontation. 

Ground staff at The Oval are reportedly preparing a formal complaint. The altercation underscores mounting pressure and scrutiny on off-field tensions during high-stakes series. As Team India readies for the decisive final Test, this confrontation adds a dramatic subplot before the series decider scheduled to start on July 31 at The Oval.