'It is not my job to be happy with him': The Oval's chief curator drops first reaction after heated exchange with Gautam Gambhir

The Oval’s chief curator, Lee Fortis, has broken his silence after a heated on-field argument with India head coach Gautam Gambhir during a practice session on Tuesday, July 29. The incident occurred just two days before the fifth and final Test against England in London.

The altercation took place near the pitch area and was caught on camera, quickly going viral on social media. In the video, Gambhir and Fortis can be seen having a tense face-off, though the exact cause of the dispute is still unclear. Fortis has now reacted to the exchange.

Fortis clears the air on argument with Gambhir

“It is quite a big game coming up. It is not my job to be happy with him (Gautam Gambhir) or not. I have never met him before today. You saw what he was like this morning. It’s okay, I am fine. We have nothing to hide…,” Fortis told reporters later in the day.

#WATCH | London, UK: Lee Fortis, Oval Pitch Curator says, "It is quite a big game coming up. It is not my job to be happy with him (Gautam Gambhir) or not. I have never met him before today. You saw what he was like this morning. It's okay, I am fine. We have nothing to hide..." https://t.co/3K5jjnpTiw pic.twitter.com/FQ8LuDYjQM

— ANI (@ANI) July 29, 2025

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The clash may have been related to the pitch conditions or how the surface was being prepared for the final Test. According to a report by The Times of India, Gambhir was heard saying, “You can’t tell us what to do! You can go and report to whoever you want, but you can’t tell us what to do.”

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With the series at 2-1 in England’s favour and only one Test remaining, pressure is mounting on both sides. India will need a win at The Oval to level the series. Meanwhile, even a draw will do for England as they are already ahead in the five-match contest.