Groundstaff Threatens To Lodge Complaint Against Gambhir For Abusive Rant: Report
Team India head coach Gautam Gambhir had a heated exchange with pitch curator at The Oval. Batting coach Sitanshu Kotak intervened as and the ground staff threatened to complain.
Indian men's cricket team head coach Gautam Gambhir was involved in a heated exchange with pitch curator Lee Fortis at The Oval on Tuesday.
Indian reporters at the scene suggest that The Oval's ground staff have threatened to lodge a complaint against the Team India head coach.
WATCH:
What Happened Between Gautam Gambhir And The Pitch Curator?
As per reports, Gambhir looked visibly upset and was seen pointing fingers as batting coach Sitanshu Kotak had to intervene. He, too, went on to have an animated discussion with Fortis.
As per visuals, Sitanshu Kotak was also seen speaking to ECB representative and the Surrey media manager.
Reports indicate that the confrontation occurred in the nets when Indian bowlers were marking their run-up areas. Known for his intense on-field persona, Gambhir was seen shouting at Fortis in full public view. The exact cause of the dispute remains unclear.
Gambhir was reportedly heard telling the curator, 'You don't tell me what to do". The specific issue remains unclear, but it clearly agitated Gambhir, who did not hesitate to express his displeasure. Fortis was later seen in a lengthy conversation with Kotak, likely explaining his position.
Initially, the pitch curator walked away from Gambhir to speak with Kotak. However, Gambhir continued to voice his opinion, pointing fingers and confronting Fortis. Eventually, Fortis and Gambhir separated, with Gambhir returning to oversee the training session.
Despite the confrontation at the nets, Gambhir remained focused on the task ahead. Speaking at the event, he acknowledged the high stakes of the final Test: 'Both teams have thrown a lot of punches and have fought for every inch. We have got one more week to go, one final push to make and one more opportunity to make our country and people out here proud."
The fifth and final Test between India and England gets underway on Thursday (31 July) as Shubman Gill's team will have a chance to level the five-match series for the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy, which the hosts lead 2-1.
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First Published:
July 29, 2025, 16:14 IST
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