The final Test of the India-England series just got spicier. Two days before the series deciding game, Indian coach Gautam Gambhir got in an argument with the Oval curator Lee Fortis. It is understood that the altercation was about the access of the playing area given to the Indian players.
While there was no official reaction on the incident from either the Indian team or the Surrey Cricket County, the host, Gambhir seemed to be exchanging angry words with the curator who had allegedly questioned the presence of Indian players and coaches in a certain area of the ground.
This comes after the Indian team fought with their backs to the wall against England and salvage a draw from the jaws of defeat at Old Trafford. That test too had ended with words exchanged between England captain Ben Stokes and Indian batters like Ravindra Jadeja as the England captain tried to end the game early, apparently to “protect his frontline bowlers”.
On Tuesday, in scenes captured by India’s travelling media contingent, Gambhir can be seen gesticulating and confronting the Oval chief curator Lee Fortis. In one clip, Gambhir can be heard pointing a finger at the curator and shouting “You don’t tell us what ne need to do”.
India reached London on Monday and had their first training session on Tuesday.
WATCH: Gambhir angry with Oval curator
VIDEO | Indian team’s head coach Gautam Gambhir was seen having verbal spat with chief curator Lee Fortis at The Oval Cricket Ground in London ahead of the last Test match of the series starting Thursday.
After having drawn the fourth Test at Old Trafford, India have a chance… pic.twitter.com/hfjHOg9uPf
— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) July 29, 2025
https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js
The fifth Test could decide the fate of the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy with England currently leading the series 2-1. If Shubman Gill’s India manage to win the Oval Test, they could tie the series.
