WATCH: Gautam Gambhir Loses Cool; Fights With Oval Pitch Curator

India’s tour of England 2025 has been a rollercoaster of drama, fiery, heated exchanges, and resilient innings. The five-match Test series, also called the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy, has already given some of the remarkable on-field moments and not just in terms of players and their on-field spat, but also some off-field controversies and moments.

With four Tests completed, England currently leads the series 2-1, while the fourth Test at Old Trafford in Manchester ended in a hard-fought draw. The upcoming fifth and final Test at the Oval is a must-win game for India if they hope to level the series. However, there were some fiery exchange of words before the final Test at The Oval and it involved India's head coach Gautam Gambhir.

Gautam Gambhir Heated Argument with Oval Pitch Curator

Just days before the decider Test at the Oval, Gautam Gambhir got into a fiery verbal altercation with the stadium’s chief pitch curator, Lee Fortis. The confrontation between the two took place during India’s practice session and was caught on camera, which led to further media attention and started a controversy.

As per multiple eyewitnesses and the video circulating on the Internet from the ground, Gambhir appeared visibly upset with the pitch condition being offered, specifically a green top surface that is likely to help England’s pace bowlers. According to a TOI report, Gambhir was seen pointing fingers at the curator and shouting, “You don’t tell us what to do!” This statement has since become the focal point of the controversy.

Later, when things escalated, Batting coach Sitanshu Kotak and other members of the Indian support staff had to intervene to prevent the situation from spiraling further. Kotak was seen calmly speaking with Fortis on the side while Gambhir distanced himself, returning to oversee India’s net session.

It is learned that the argument reportedly began over the facilities and pitch preparation for the Indian side. Gambhir believed that the arrangements were not up to standard and confronted Fortis directly. As things escalated, Gambhir, while wearing his training mitt and supervising batting drills, repeatedly raised his voice, pointing towards Fortis several times, showing his frustration.

Watch: Gautam Gambhir Fight with Oval Pitch Curator

The series started with England taking the lead in the first match thanks to a dominant performance by their top order. India bounced back strongly in the second Test and made it a 1-2 draw. However, England edged ahead again with a close 22-run win in the Third Test at Lord’s. In Manchester, India were down and out at one point.

But the team, led by performances from captain Shubman Gill, KL Rahul, Ravindra Jadeja, and Washington Sundar, stitched a draw, saving the game and keeping the series alive. The draw felt like a victory for India, which reignited the hopes of the visitors for a comeback in the final Test at The Oval. However, before India prepared for this crucial Test match, Gautam Gambhir fight with Oval pitch curator has given birth to a new controversy.

What are the Consequences?

Following the heated exchange, members of the Oval ground staff, including Fortis, were reportedly considering filing a formal complaint against Gambhir. The incident is now under the radar of both the England and Wales Cricket Board and Team India’s management, which has further intensified the atmosphere right before the final game.

According to sources at the venue, discussions were held between the Indian Team officials and the ECB representatives about the matter, including Surrey’s media manager, Adam Sofroniou. The ground staff were particularly unhappy with the tone and language used by Gambhir during the confrontations.

Reports also suggest that the Oval authorities felt disrespected and are evaluating options, including submitting a formal report to the governing bodies.
In response to staff’s mention of a potential complaint, Gambhir remained unbothered and replied, “You can go and report to whoever you want, but you can’t tell us what to do.”

While no official complaint has yet been lodged, the possibility hangs over the match. The ECB has remained silent on the matter, and there has been no formal word from the BCCI or Gambhir. As India is preparing for a must-win Test to level the series, Gautam Gambhir's heated argument with the Oval curator has given some more spice to this series, which has been tightly-fought so far.