Just two days before the fifth and final Test at The Oval, tension erupted between Indian head coach Gautam Gambhir and Surrey’s chief curator Lee Fortis. What should have been a routine pitch inspection turned into a headline-grabbing controversy—one that raised serious questions over favoritism and treatment of visiting teams.
The drama unfolded when Gambhir and members of the Indian support staff were told by Fortis to maintain a distance of 2.5 meters from the pitch. According to Indian batting coach Sitanshu Kotak, this instruction came despite the team being in joggers and making no attempt to touch or disturb the surface.
“It was a bit surprising. We were just taking a look at the surface—no spikes, no interference. I’ve never seen this before,” Kotak said.
But what really fueled the fire was a blatant inconsistency. The day prior, England’s head coach Brendon McCullum and ECB’s Rob Key had inspected the same pitch casually—without any objections from Fortis.
“England’s staff came in casuals and no one told them to step back. That’s what made it awkward,” Kotak pointed out.
Gambhir Snaps After Heated Exchange
Tensions escalated when a member of the Indian staff was publicly scolded by Fortis for bringing a 10-kg cooling box near the pitch. That prompted Gambhir to intervene.
“You don’t tell any of us what we need to do, you have no right to tell us. You’re just a groundsman, nothing beyond,” Gambhir reportedly snapped.
Fortis replied, “I will have to report this.”
Kotak attempted to de-escalate the confrontation, clarifying Gambhir’s outburst as a defense of his team:
“Gautam just said, ‘Don’t talk to our support staff like that.’ It’s natural for a head coach to protect his team. Everyone is under him.”
“It’s a Cricket Pitch, Not an Antique” – Kotak Slams Overprotection
Kotak didn’t mince words when criticizing the curator’s perceived overprotectiveness.
“This isn’t an antique that’ll break if you touch it. Come match day, players will be diving all over that square.”
He emphasized that the Indian team treats pitches with care and professionalism.
“Curators should know they’re dealing with intelligent, skilled people. No one wore spikes. Nothing was damaged. You can be protective—but don’t be arrogant.”
Not the First Incident?
Kotak hinted this might not be an isolated case. Before reaching The Oval, some Indian players had reportedly warned the coaching staff that Fortis could be “difficult to work with.”
Despite the tense exchange, India will not file a formal complaint. Surrey County Cricket Club, which owns The Oval, has remained silent on the issue. Sources close to the ground staff claim Fortis was simply safeguarding a high-use square that hosts more than 60 days of cricket each year.
With the final Test on the horizon and the series delicately poised, this controversy adds another layer of drama to what has already been a fiercely contested tour.
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