Kennington Oval’s chief curator Lee Fortis has reopened his verbal battle with India head coach Gautam Gambhir, just a week after their heated exchange before the final India vs England Test.
The altercation occurred two days before the match, when Fortis raised concerns about Indian players getting too close to the pitch during a practice session. He initially approached assistant coach Sitanshu Kotak, but the matter escalated when Gambhir stepped in.
According to ESPNcricinfo, Gambhir lashed out at Fortis, saying: “You stop it. You don’t tell us what we need to do. You have no right to tell us. You’re just a groundsman—stay in your capacity. Nothing beyond. You are just a groundsman.”
He also reportedly warned Kotak not to “get into a discussion” with the curator.
Fortis later warned Gambhir to stop swearing or risk being reported to the ICC match referee. A video of the tense exchange quickly went viral on social media, sparking widespread debate among fans and cricketing circles.
Now, a week after the incident, Fortis has said the clash unfairly painted him as a villain in the eyes of Indian supporters. Although, he spoke how well the last match of the series went, especially the IPL-like atmosphere at The Oval.Speaking to PTI, he commented: “Well, I was never the villain; I was made into one. Hope you guys enjoyed the show, and the atmosphere was like the IPL. It was a great game.”
Fortis, who has been named ECB’s Curator of the Year for three consecutive years, has already returned to his duties. He is currently preparing the pitch for The Hundred. His focus has shifted swiftly back to work, just days after India sealed a thrilling six-run win in the fifth and final Test at The Oval to level the series 2-2.
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