Gautam Gambhir is currently making headlines after reports emerged that the former International cricketer were involved in a fight with Oval pitch curator Lee Fortis
Not aware of the controversial argument? Here’s everything that we know so far.
Who is The Oval pitch curator Lee Fortis as video of Indian cricket team coach Gautam Gambhir fighting with him goes viral
Gautam Gambhir had a heated altercation with oval curator .
Gambhir gave it back to Oval’s curator Lee Fortis when he tried to interfere in India’s practise sessions and made an attempt to dictate terms to Indian cricketers.
We will be having some fire cracker test with… pic.twitter.com/B0uX44Wu9C
— Saachi (@anj_shas) July 29, 2025
As aforesaid, earlier reports surfaced claiming that the 43-year-old coach of the Indian cricket team was involved in a fight with the Oval pitch curator, Lee Fortis. The incident took place on Tuesday, wherein the former politician was heard saying “you don’t tell us what we need to do” while pointing fingers at the ground staff.
Lee Fortis has been in charge of the pitch at the Oval in London since 2012, when he was brought on to replace Bill Gordon and before 2012, Fortis had worked as an assistant head groundsman at the Oval before leaving in 2006. He had a stint tending the Honourable Artillery Company ground in the City of London and after taking charge of the Oval ground as Surrey’s Head of Ground Staff, Fortis claimed the award for the best multi-day pitches for the third consecutive year at the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) 2024 Grounds Manager of the Year Awards last year. It was his fourth award overall.
While walking from the field to his room, Fortis said: “It’s a big game, and he (Gambhir) is a bit touchy.”
As per reports, the Indian team who after the incident went viral, came forward and addressed the situation as they revealed their side of story.
I definitely would not want to f*ck with Oval Head Groundsman Lee Fortis.
He makes Andre the Giant look like a Munchkin. pic.twitter.com/d0zu3YUcE2
— WG RumblePants (@WG_RumblePants) July 29, 2025
What Did Team India Reveal?
As per the statement given by the Indian team’s batting coach Sitanshu Kotak, one of the ground staff came to them when the team was practicing and told them to “stand 2.5 m from the wicket,” while adding “go outside the rope and see the wicket.”
Furthermore, Kotak added that the Indian team members were not wearing spikes and there wasn’t any dangerous element on the surface. In addition, he can be heard saying that before the game, they had no idea that “the curator isn’t the easiest person to work with,” while commenting that “being possessive is good but not that much.”
🚨BREAKING: The Oval Ground Staff, Lee Fortis tries to play down the spat and says,”Gambhir is a touchy guy.”@debasissen @ThumsUpOfficial #ENGvsIND #GautamGambhir pic.twitter.com/pFMif7SIUH
— RevSportz Global (@RevSportzGlobal) July 29, 2025
What Did the Viral Video Show?
The videos from the practice session have now gone viral featuring seemingly angry and upset Gautam Gambhir as he can be seen involved in a verbal altercation with the curator, prompting Kotak to intervene the situation to calm it down a bit.
The argument escalated after Fortis told the Indian coach that he has “to report this.” To which Gambhir agitatedly replied “You go and report whatever you want to.” At this point, the batting coach Kotak involved in the situation and took Fortis in a corner and said “We won’t damage anything.”
🚨 Gautam Gambhir Fight with pitch curator 🚨
England have started playing dirty games. The Oval’s chief curator was trying to dictate terms to Indian Cricket Team on how they should practice and causing troubles during a practice session. pic.twitter.com/jBHhObVgNa pic.twitter.com/qjAGSNnpwK
— Jeet (@JeetN25) July 29, 2025
Meanwhile, the situation was escalated to this point, that the staff of the Indian team could be seen standing and observing the situation as they keenly listened to the argument. Though, as of now, it isn’t clear why the two got involved in an argument, but the way they seemed to be talking in the video, it seems the two were talking about the condition of the pitch for the practice session.
After the video and footage of the scene surfaced on the social media platforms, various users start asking for the removal of Gambhir from the Indian coach position as they believe he is ruining the image of the country.
Gautam Gambhir should be removed from India's Head Coach position with immediate effect. He is ruining India's image everywhere pic.twitter.com/zitheT608j
— Aarav (@kohli_pagluu) July 29, 2025
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