News
IPL
Indian Cricket Team
Women's World Cup 2025
International Cricket
Women’s Premier League (WPL)
Features
Watch
Interviews
Social Reactions
Contact
Privacy Policy
Cookie Policy

The Oval Pitch Curator Reveals His Side of the Story After Row With Gautam Gambhir in ENG vs IND Series

Aditya Ighe

India won The Oval Test against England by six runs.

The Oval chief pitch curator, Lee Fortis, is yet to forget his animated chat with India’s head coach Gautam Gambhir. A clip where Fortis and Gambhir had a fierce chat that went viral on the internet two days before the final Test. The heated exchange was regarding the pitch that was going to be used for the fifth Test.

A few days later, India looked far behind in the game till the stumps on Day 4. But a dramatic batting collapse of the hosts helped India seal the win and draw the series 2-2. Now, Indian cricketers have already reached home, but Fortis hasn’t been able to move on from the incident. He reignited the row, taking a dig at Gambhir. He called India’s head coach “tetchy” or ‘bad-tempered’.

Upcoming – t20 – Port of Spain
Caribbean Premier League, 2025
28 Aug 2025, 04:30 AM IST
Trinbago Knight Riders TKR

Antigua and Barbuda Falcons ABF

Upcoming – t20 – Gros Islet
Caribbean Premier League, 2025
29 Aug 2025, 04:30 AM IST
Saint Lucia Kings SLK

St Kitts and Nevis Patriots SKA

Result – t20 – دبي
DP World ILT20 Development Tournament, 2025
MI Emirates Development MIEDM

189/5

Dubai Capitals Development DCDM

147/10

MI Emirates Development beat Dubai Capitals Development by 42 runs

Upcoming – t20 – دبي
DP World ILT20 Development Tournament, 2025
27 Aug 2025, 10:30 PM IST
Gulf Giants Development GGDM

Desert Vipers Development DVDM

Result – t20 – Central Delhi
Delhi Premier League , 2025
Purani Delhi 6 PD

133/3

South Delhi Superstarz SDS

136/2

South Delhi Superstarz beat Purani Delhi 6 by 8 wickets

Live – t20 – Central Delhi
Delhi Premier League , 2025
East Delhi Riders EDR

69/8

Central Delhi Kings CDK

155/6

Upcoming – t20 – Central Delhi
Delhi Premier League , 2025
28 Aug 2025, 07:00 PM IST
North Delhi Strikers NDS

New Delhi Tigers NDT

Upcoming – test – Bengaluru
Duleep Trophy, 2025
28 Aug 2025, 09:30 AM IST
Central Zone CLZ

North East Zone NEZ

Upcoming – test – Bengaluru
Duleep Trophy, 2025
28 Aug 2025, 09:30 AM IST
North Zone NTZ

East Zone EZ

Completed – t10 – București
ECS Romania, Encore, 2025
Baneasa Cricket Club BAC

Transylvania TSA

Completed – t10 – București
ECS Romania, Encore, 2025
United CC Bucharest UCCB

Transylvania TSA

Completed – t10 – București
ECS Romania, Encore, 2025
United CC Bucharest UCCB

Cluj Cricket Club CLJ

Completed – t10 – București
ECS Romania, Encore, 2025
Baneasa Cricket Club BAC

Transylvania TSA

Completed – t10 – București
ECS Romania, Encore, 2025
United CC Bucharest UCCB

Cluj Cricket Club CLJ

Upcoming – t10 – București
ECS Romania, Encore, 2025
28 Aug 2025, 11:30 AM IST
Lankan Lions LKLS

Cluj Cricket Club CLJ

Upcoming – t10 – București
ECS Romania, Encore, 2025
28 Aug 2025, 01:30 PM IST
ACCB ACB

Transylvania TSA

Upcoming – t10 – București
ECS Romania, Encore, 2025
28 Aug 2025, 03:30 PM IST
ACCB ACB

Cluj Cricket Club CLJ

Upcoming – t10 – București
ECS Romania, Encore, 2025
28 Aug 2025, 05:30 PM IST
Lankan Lions LKLS

Cluj Cricket Club CLJ

Upcoming – t10 – București
ECS Romania, Encore, 2025
28 Aug 2025, 07:30 PM IST
ACCB ACB

Transylvania TSA

Upcoming – oneday – United Kingdom
England Domestic One-Day Cup, 2025
28 Aug 2025, 03:30 PM IST
Somerset SOM

Gloucestershire GLO

Upcoming – oneday – Northern Ireland
England Domestic One-Day Cup, 2025
28 Aug 2025, 03:30 PM IST
Hampshire HAM

Middlesex MID

Live – oneday – St Saviour
ICC Cricket World Cup Challenge League, 2024-26
Papua New Guinea PNG

53/2

Kenya KNY

275/8

Live – oneday – Jersey
ICC Cricket World Cup Challenge League, 2024-26
Qatar QAT

265/7

Denmark DEN

37/3

Upcoming – oneday – St Saviour
ICC Cricket World Cup Challenge League, 2024-26
28 Aug 2025, 03:30 PM IST
Denmark DEN

Kuwait KWT

Upcoming – oneday – Jersey
ICC Cricket World Cup Challenge League, 2024-26
28 Aug 2025, 03:30 PM IST
Papua New Guinea PNG

Jersey JER

Live – oneday – King
ICC Cricket World Cup League Two, 2023-27
Canada CAN

219/10

Namibia NAM

0/0

Result – t20 – Rotterdam
ICC Women’s T20 World Cup Europe Qualifier Division 1, 2025
Germany Women GER-W

110/1

Netherlands Women NED-W

175/4

Netherlands Women beat Germany Women by 65 runs

Live – t20 – Rotterdam
ICC Women’s T20 World Cup Europe Qualifier Division 1, 2025
Italy Women ITA-W

129/6

Ireland Women IRE-W

175/6

Abandoned – oneday – Cork
Ireland Inter-Provincial Limited Over Cup, 2025
Munster Reds MUR

Northern Knights (Ireland) NK

Match Abandoned

Abandoned – oneday – Bready
Ireland Inter-Provincial Limited Over Cup, 2025
Leinster Lightning LLG

9/1

North West Warriors NWW

155/4

Result – t20 – Thiruvananthapuram
Kerala Cricket League , 2025
Calicut Globstars CAGS

249/4

Kochi Blue Tigers KBTS

216/10

Calicut Globstars beat Kochi Blue Tigers by 33 runs

Live – t20 – Thiruvananthapuram
Kerala Cricket League , 2025
Adani Trivandrum Royals ATR

23/1

Thrissur Titans TTS

222/4

Upcoming – t20 – Thiruvananthapuram
Kerala Cricket League , 2025
28 Aug 2025, 02:30 PM IST
Kochi Blue Tigers KBTS

Adani Trivandrum Royals ATR

Upcoming – t20 – Thiruvananthapuram
Kerala Cricket League , 2025
28 Aug 2025, 06:45 PM IST
Aries Kollam Sailors ARKS

Alleppey Ripples ALRS

Live – t20 – Mysuru
Maharaja Trophy KSCA T20, 2025
Mangalore Dragons MGD

121/2

Bengaluru Blasters BNB

152/10

Upcoming – t20 – Mysuru
Maharaja Trophy KSCA T20, 2025
28 Aug 2025, 07:15 PM IST
Hubli Tigers HBT

TBC TBC

Upcoming – t20 – Oman
Oman D20 League, 2025
28 Aug 2025, 05:00 PM IST
Royal Oman Stallions ROS

Yallah Shabab Giants YSG

Upcoming – t20 – Oman
Oman D20 League, 2025
28 Aug 2025, 09:00 PM IST
Majees Titans MAT

IAS Invincibles IAI

Result – t20 – Australia
T20 Max Competition, 2025
Toombul TMB

183/6

Western Suburbs WSS

189/5

Western Suburbs beat Toombul by 5 wickets

Result – t20 – Australia
T20 Max Competition, 2025
Ipswich IPS

143/8

Northern Suburbs NSBB

146/5

Northern Suburbs beat Ipswich by 5 wickets

Upcoming – t20 – Australia
T20 Max Competition, 2025
28 Aug 2025, 01:30 PM IST
Sandgate Redcliffe SGR

Redlands RLS

Upcoming – t20 – Albion
T20 Max Competition, 2025
28 Aug 2025, 02:00 PM IST
University of Queensland UOQ

Wynnum Manly WYN

Upcoming – t20 – Wooloowin
T20 Max Competition, 2025
28 Aug 2025, 09:30 PM IST
Sunshine Coast SSC

South Brisbane SBB

Toss – 100-ball – United Kingdom
The Hundred Mens Competition 2025
27 Aug 2025, 11:00 PM IST
Trent Rockets TRR

Birmingham Phoenix BIP

Upcoming – 100-ball – United Kingdom
The Hundred Mens Competition 2025
28 Aug 2025, 11:00 PM IST
Southern Brave SOB

Welsh Fire WEF

Result – 100-ball – United Kingdom
The Hundred Women’s Competition, 2025
Trent Rockets Women TRW-W

126/7

Birmingham Phoenix Women BIP-W

123/6

Trent Rockets Women beat Birmingham Phoenix Women by 3 wickets

Upcoming – 100-ball – United Kingdom
The Hundred Women’s Competition, 2025
28 Aug 2025, 07:30 PM IST
Southern Brave Women SBW-W

Welsh Fire Women WFW-W

Result – t20 – Lucknow
Uttar Pradesh T20 League, 2025
Lucknow Falcons LUF

140/10

Meerut Mavericks MEMA

233/4

Meerut Mavericks beat Lucknow Falcons by 93 runs

Live – t20 – Lucknow
Uttar Pradesh T20 League, 2025
Gorakhpur Lions GOLS

74/1

Noida Super Kings NOSK

248/2

Upcoming – t20 – Lucknow
Uttar Pradesh T20 League, 2025
28 Aug 2025, 03:00 PM IST
Kanpur Superstars KASS

Lucknow Falcons LUF

Upcoming – t20 – Lucknow
Uttar Pradesh T20 League, 2025
28 Aug 2025, 07:30 PM IST
Noida Super Kings NOSK

Kashi Rudras KARS

What Was Gautam Gambhir vs Lee Fortis’ Verbal Spat About?  

The verbal spat sparked when Fortis displayed issues with the Indian players and coaching staff getting too close to the pitch during a practice session. He first approached India’s batting coach Sitanshu Kotak, leading Gambhir to interfere. India’s head coach flaunted his finger towards Fortis and told him he was “just a groundsman”. Fortis warned Gambhir to stop swearing or risk being reported to the ICC match referee.

According to an ESPNcricinfo report, when Fortis issued a second warning, Gambhir snapped: “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.”

ALSO READ

The Oval Pitch Curator Makes Bold Claim

Speaking to PTI seven days after the incident, the curator asserted that the spat had made him a villain in the eyes of Indians. He also displayed satisfaction with how the decider went and praised the “IPL-like atmosphere” at the venue on game days.

“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,” said Fortis.

Notably, Fortis has been named the English Cricket Board’s (ECB) curator of the year for the last three years in a row.

Fortis is now working on creating pitches for the ongoing The Hundred. The PTI report also claimed that Fortis ran towards the main square to oversee the preparation of the pitches for The Hundred games right after India’s celebrations ended.

For more updates, follow CricXtasy on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, Telegram, and YouTube.