Oval pitch

Indian High Commission: India head coach Gautam Gambhir found himself at the centre of an unexpected controversy on Tuesday after a verbal altercation with The Oval’s pitch curator, Lee Fortis, during India’s optional training session ahead of the fifth and final Test against England.

According to media reports, the confrontation occurred in the nets when Indian bowlers were marking their run-up areas. Gambhir, known for his intense on-field persona, was seen shouting at Fortis in full public view.

The exact cause of the dispute remains unclear. The exchange quickly escalated before India’s batting coach Sitanshu Kotak intervened. Kotak stepped in to pull Fortis away, while Gambhir, visibly agitated, continued the argument from a distance.