Just two days before the fifth and final test of the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy, India’s head coach Gautam Gambhir made a warm argument with Lee Fortis, the chief curator of the Oval Ground. The controversial incident appeared during India’s first practice session on 29 July.
Things increased to such an extent that India’s batting coach, Satanshu Kotak had to step into position and calm. Now, Revsports claimed that it was the oval pitch curator that provoked the Indian cricket team and Gautam Gambhir several times with a series of sarcastic and inflammatory comments, which led to a hot argument between the two.
Gautam Gambhir cooled India before the last test after the Oval Curator
As reported by Revsports, all the plays started when the Indian cricket team approached Lee Fortis and asked what they could expect from the pitch at the Oval in the next 48 hours so that they could take out their plans, but it turned into an oral location. A sarcastic Fortis said that he would “grow more grass on this wicket in the next two days so that you people have trouble.”
cricketballgame.com
Also read: BCCI takes strict steps after the fight with Gautam Gambhir’s Oval Curator
This was the first time the pitch curator provoked Indians a bit. But the situation increased when Gambhir himself proceeded to inspect the pitch, and he was well within his rights as a head coach to inspect the pitch. But Lee ended Gambhir and suggesting that he tried to look at the wicket beyond the rope, and the tension increased.
“You can see the pitch … from only two and a half meters away,” the main curator of the Oval allegedly said seriously. It is basically beyond the rope.
It was not just so much; Fortis Lee also insulted a member of Assistant Employees of India, who was trying to bring an icebox on the field. When the Indian assistant employee brought to the icebox, the pitch curator shouted and asked to bring the icebox from outside the rope.
Also read: Criminal behind Rishabh Pant Kuldeep Yadav’s lapse; Shocking details emerge
Lee demanded him to walk around the rope from outside the boundary line and then bring it to him, “You cannot walk inside the ground.” This behavior was not sitting well with the Indian head coach, and those things that encouraged Gautam, and Lee faced their anger.
Oval Pitch Curator, Li Fortis instigated the Indian team with satire and comments about pitch and icebox, which led to a change.
The whole story on what exactly happened.@Boriamajumdar @Wowmomo4u #Leefortis #Gautamgambhir #ENGVSIND pic.twitter.com/xz6kdwtetv
– Revsportz Global (@revsportzglobal) 30 July, 2025
What did Gautam Gambhir say to the pitch curator?
During a stressful moment in the oval, Lee Fortis allegedly approached Gautam Gambhir and said, “I have to report this.” And the head coach quickly replied, “You go and report whatever you want to report.”
Pointing to the groundstaff, Ganbhar heated the conversation and said, “You can’t tell us what to do. You are just one of the groundman, nothing beyond.” He firmly said, “You don’t tell us what we need to do.”
Later, Satanshu Kotak confirmed that the curator misbehaved with serious and assistant employees. He said that before the Indian camp, England head coach Brendon McCullum and the team director Rob had come to inspect the pitch inspection, but the rules were not applicable for the hosts.
