[WATCH] ENG vs IND 5th Test: Oval's Lee Fortis open up his side over controversy with Gautam Gambhir
Gautam Gambhir and Oval curator Lee Fortis were involved in a heated exchange ahead of the 5th Test between India and England over practice pitch conditions.
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The Oval curator Lee Fortis has addressed the heated incident that took place between him and India head coach Gautam Gambhir on Tuesday. The tense exchange was witnessed during India's practice session, where Gambhir was seen pointing fingers at Fortis and audibly stating, "you don't tell us what we need to do." The verbal spat drew attention from players and support staff alike, leaving onlookers surprised by the intensity of the moment.
When questioned about the incident, Fortis maintained a guarded stance. “You saw what he was like this morning. He's a bit touchy,” he remarked, refusing to dive into the specifics. He added, “There’s no side of the story. You’ll have to ask him that,” when pressed further. Despite multiple attempts by reporters to extract details, Fortis refrained from providing facts, merely concluding, “I’m okay. We’ve got nothing to hide here.”
The Indian team is currently in London for the fifth and final Test against England, starting Thursday at The Oval. England is leading the series 2-1, and the pressure is on India, who are looking to tie the series following a nail-biting draw at Old Trafford. The altercation was said to be caused by issues regarding the practice pitch, which got India's batting coach Sitanshu Kotak involved to smooth things over.
Practice Pitch Dispute Sparks Heated Words
According to eyewitness accounts at the venue, the argument escalated quickly, with Gambhir visibly agitated. Fortis was seen walking away to speak with Kotak privately, but Gambhir continued to express his displeasure, saying, “You don’t tell us what we need to do. You can’t tell any one of us what we need to do. You are just a groundsman; stay like a groundsman.” After a long chat between Kotak and Fortis, both parties eventually separated, and Gambhir returned to supervise India’s training session.
Watch the video here.
See Also: [WATCH] Gautam Gambhir angry on groundsmen ahead of ENG vs IND 5th Test at Kennington Oval
This incident strengthens the emotional trouble in a heavier-than-usual series. From Shubman Gill's outburst at Lord’s to the frustration of the England side during the draw at Manchester, it has been a tense five-Test series. With the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy at stake, both teams will feel the pressure as they head into the final showdown.
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