Just a day after a heated argument with India’s head coach Gautam Gambhir, Oval pitch curator Lee Fortis again caused trouble during India’s final practice session before the 5th and final Test against England.
India had drawn the fourth Test in Manchester and are trailing 1-2 in the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy series. The final match is crucial for both teams.
What Happened at the Practice?
During Wednesday’s training session, Fortis asked Nuwan Seneviratne, India’s throwdown specialist, to shift his practice area. This sudden request surprised the Indian support staff.
Later, Fortis walked up to captain Shubman Gill, coach Gautam Gambhir, batting coach Sitanshu Kotak, and BCCI selector Ajit Agarkar, who were standing near the main pitch. He asked them to move to another spot, and they agreed—except for Gambhir, who completely ignored Fortis, acting like he wasn’t even there.
The trouble didn’t stop. Indian player Sai Sudharsan was also told to move away from the area where he was doing warm-up sprints. Interestingly, this same area is usually used by both teams during matches.
When Lee Fortis met Gautam Gambhir again…#ENGvsIND pic.twitter.com/rw9JLgqD8N
— Sandipan Banerjee (@im_sandipan) July 30, 2025
What Did Shubman Gill Say?
Gill called the whole situation “unnecessary.” He said, “It’s not the first time we’ve looked at the pitch. I don’t know why there was such a fuss.” Gill has been in great form, scoring 722 runs in the series so far.
Read more: ‘Be Ready for Your Chance’: Gambhir’s Words Motivate Jurel Ahead of England Test Debut
What Happened Between Fortis and Gambhir?
A day earlier, during an optional training session, Fortis asked the Indian team to stay at least 2.5 meters away from the main pitch. This annoyed Gambhir, who was caught on camera saying firmly, “You can’t tell us what to do. You’re just the groundsman, nothing beyond.”
Interestingly, Fortis didn’t ask the England team to move or follow any such rules.
