Lee Fortis on Fight with Gautam Gambhir: Team India’s head coach Gautam Gambhir once again came into the limelight before the decisive Test of the series to be held at the Oval. During the practice session, he had a dispute with the oval pitch curator Lee Fortis. There was a hot debate between the two, after which the support staff had to intervene. Now the pitch curator has also responded to this whole matter.
There was an atmosphere of controversy before the fifth and decisive Test match between India and England. Team India’s head coach Gautam Gambhir was seen clashing with Curator Lee Fortis over the position of the pitch during practice at Oval. This debate increased so much that India’s batting coach Sitanshu Kotak and the rest of the support staff had to come in the middle.
Gambhir, who is known for his impeccable style, has been in controversies on many occasions before. This time the issue of debate was the wet condition of the pitch and instructions related to the practice area. According to media reports, Gambhir told the curator, “You don’t tell us what we have to do.”
After the incident, Lee Fortis clarified in a media interaction. He said, “You must have seen how he was (serious) in the morning. It is a big match and such things are part of the game. It doesn’t matter to me whether I am happy or not. I have met him for the first time today, and I have nothing to hide.”
🚨Breaking: The Oval Ground Staff, Lee Fortis Tries to play down the spat and say, “Gambhir is a touchy guy.”@Debasissen @Thumsupofficial #ENGVSIND #Gautamgambhir pic.twitter.com/pfmif7siuh
– Revsportz Global (@revsportzglobal) July 29, 2025
Fortis said that his intention was not to increase the controversy and he just did his work. He also said that such debates before the big series match are not uncommon.
Team India is currently behind 1-2 in the series, so it is very important for them to win the Oval Test which is to be played from 31 July, so that the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy can share the Trophy with England. At the same time, England only need a draw or victory to capture the trophy.
