Ahead of the fifth and final Test against England at The Oval, Indian coach Gautam Gambhir found himself embroiled in a heated dispute with groundsman Lee Fortis. Footage of the incident, which has since circulated on social media, shows Gambhir confronting Fortis and asserting, “You don’t tell us what we need to do … You are just a groundsman.”
Reportedly, tensions rose when Fortis expressed frustration over the Indian team’s use of the primary square for practice. Gambhir’s comments came as Fortis warned him about getting too close to the pitch designated for the upcoming Test. Despite claims that Gambhir used profane language—a nuance not captured in the footage—he reportedly told Fortis, “Go report whatever you want, go f— off.” The encounter illustrates cracks in the relationship between teams and ground staff, particularly as tensions flare in the lead-up to a crucial match.
The incident didn’t end with Gambhir’s remarks. India’s batting coach, Sitanshu Kotak, later described Fortis’ attitude as “arrogant.” At a post-training press conference, Kotak elaborated on the altercation, stating that the coaching staff found it surprising when a member of the ground staff insisted they maintain a distance of at least 2.5 metres from the wicket while they merely inspected it. Kotak emphasised that the pitch was set for a Test match the following day, and their presence was justified, especially as they wore joggers and rubber spikes to avoid causing any damage.
In his comments, Kotak highlighted the need for curators to recognise the expertise of the players and coaches. He pointed out that while maintaining the quality of the pitch is important, the ground staff should remember that a cricket pitch is not an ancient artefact that cannot be touched.
As the series progresses, the backdrop of contention is palpable, with the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy in a tight spot, with England leading 2-1 before the decider scheduled for Thursday. Recent matches have been marked by their own controversies, such as English captain Ben Stokes and player Harry Brook attempting to wrap up the previous Test with handshakes, only to be met with defiance from Indian players reaching their individual milestones, resulting in a series filled with heated exchanges.
As the teams prepare for what promises to be an intense showdown, the simmering tension between Gambhir and the ground staff is just one of the many dynamics that may influence the outcome of this closely contested series.