India’s preparations for the fifth Test of the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy took an unexpected turn when head coach Gautam Gambhir got into a heated exchange with The Oval’s head groundsman, Lee Fortis, during the team’s first practice session.
The incident reportedly began with a disagreement over India’s use of the practice square. Gambhir was visibly upset as Fortis objected to the team placing equipment — specifically a cooling box — on the square. Videos circulating online show Gambhir arguing aggressively, though their authenticity remains unverified.
What Sparked the Clash?
Assistant coach Sitanshu Kotak later shared India’s side of the story. He said that the friction started earlier that morning, when a few Indian coaches went to inspect the match pitch — a common routine before a Test. However, they were told by a member of the ground staff to maintain a distance of at least 2.5 metres from the pitch.
Kotak called the request “surprising” and said it felt “awkward” since they were simply inspecting the surface while wearing joggers, not spikes.
“In other venues, curators are open — they talk about pitch conditions, when they’ll cut the grass, or just say they’ll decide based on weather. But here, it was strangely guarded,” Kotak explained.
The Flashpoint
The situation escalated when India’s support staff tried to move a cooling box (weighing around 10 kg) onto the practice square during training. Fortis, seated on a roller, reportedly shouted at the staff, prompting Gambhir to intervene.
“Gautam is someone who doesn’t talk unnecessarily. But when someone shouts at our support staff, he will step in. We all work under the head coach — so it’s his responsibility,” Kotak said.
He added that India takes care not to damage the ground. They use markers and sprays instead of spikes and are mindful of pitch preservation — something directed by Gambhir himself.
Reported Remarks
Unverified videos on social media claim to capture Gambhir saying:
“Go, f** off from here… Don’t tell us what to do. You’re just a groundsman. Stay in your capacity.”*
Kotak did not comment on the exact wording of the exchange but defended Gambhir, saying he was standing up for his team.
A Pattern?
Kotak also hinted that India was not the only team to face such issues at The Oval, suggesting Fortis has a reputation for being “difficult to work with.” Despite that, Fortis is well-respected in English cricket — a four-time winner of the ECB’s Bernard Flack Memorial Trophy for best multi-day pitches.
Fortis, according to Cricbuzz, was likely concerned about preserving the square ahead of a busy domestic season and the upcoming Hundred competition.
Final Thoughts
Kotak concluded by saying:
“It’s okay to be protective about the pitch — but not to the point of being unapproachable. A cricket ground isn’t an antique that breaks with a touch. End of the day, it’s meant to be played on.”
