The cricketing world was abuzz with an unexpected confrontation as India’s head coach, Gautam Gambhir, found himself in a heated exchange with Lee Fortis, the Oval pitch curator, on Tuesday, July 29. This verbal spat, unfolding just days before the crucial fifth Test between England and India, quickly became the biggest talking point, overshadowing pre-match preparations.
Gautam Gambhir’s roar: ‘You are just a groundsman here’
Cricket fans were wondering what exactly triggered such a fiery disagreement between a cricketing legend and a seasoned groundsman. As per the multiple media reports and then confirmed by India’s batting coach in the press brief later, the core of the conflict revolved around access to the pitch and the conduct of the Indian team on the square area, leading to strong words and differing accounts of the incident.
The fuse to the heated confrontation, as elucidated by India’s batting coach Sitanshu Kotak, was lit when the Indian coaching staff approached the pitch for a routine inspection. They were met with an unexpected directive: to maintain a ‘2.5 meters away’ distance from the wicket. Kotak found this instruction ‘a bit awkward,’ especially considering they were in joggers and posed no threat to the playing surface.
However, the situation truly escalated when Fortis reportedly shouted at an Indian support staff member who was merely carrying a lightweight cooling box onto the square. This perceived disrespect towards his team clearly ignited Gambhir’s ire. In the ensuing verbal volley, Gambhir was heard telling Fortis, “You are just a groundsman here. Go, report whatever you want to report, you are only a groundsman,”. He also used a couple of expletives, reflecting his strong emotions. While recognizing that curators are often “a little overprotective and possessive about the squares and the ground,” Kotak emphasized that they need to understand they are dealing with ‘highly skilled and intelligent people’ who know how to respect the playing area.
This is what exactly was said in the heated argument between Gautam Gambhir and @surreycricket head groundstaff Lee Fortis. #ENGvIND #GautamGambhir #LeeFortis pic.twitter.com/lZ4VPaBsRg
— Debasis Sen (@debasissen) July 29, 2025
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Lee Fortis’ different narrative: ‘We have nothing to hide’
In the wake of the highly publicized altercation, both sides offered their interpretations, presenting starkly different narratives. Lee Fortis, the Oval curator, largely sought to downplay the incident, stating to the media that he had “never met him (Gambhir) before today” and that it wasn’t his job “to be happy with him (Gautam Gambhir) or not.” When pressed for details about what had transpired, Fortis remained evasive, suggesting, “You saw what he was like this morning,” and adding, “It’s okay, I am fine. We have nothing to hide.”
Conversely, Kotak provided a more detailed and assertive defense of Gambhir’s actions. Kotak clarified that the Indian team was not attempting to damage the pitch; rather, the curator’s ‘arrogant’ tone and the shouting directed at a support staff member were the primary triggers for Gambhir’s outburst. He passionately defended Gambhir, stating, ‘what he said about the head coach, I don’t want to comment because that’s his opinion, and everyone in this world has their opinions. But looking at the wicket with just rubber spikes, there’s nothing wrong,’
Kotak also highlighted the absurdity of the curator’s overprotectiveness, asserting, “It’s a cricket pitch. It’s not an antique where you can’t touch because otherwise it’s 200 years old, and it can be broken, you know,”. Despite the heated exchange, Kotak confirmed that the Indian team would not be lodging an official complaint, opting instead to focus on the upcoming crucial Test match.
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