Tensions flared at The Oval in London as Gautam Gambhir, the head coach of the Indian cricket team, engaged in a heated verbal exchange with the chief pitch curator, Lee Fortis, ahead of the crucial fifth Test against England. The incident occurred during India's practice session on Tuesday, July 29, 2025, just days before the final Test match of the series.

Details surrounding the cause of the altercation remain unclear, but reports suggest that Gambhir expressed his dissatisfaction with the facilities provided to the visiting team. A video circulating online shows Gambhir pointing his finger at Fortis while involved in a passionate discussion. The conversation appeared to escalate, with Gambhir reportedly shouting, "You can't tell us what to do!".

According to reports, a member of the Oval groundstaff threatened to lodge a complaint against Gambhir for his behavior. However, the former India cricketer remained unfazed and reiterated his stance.

To diffuse the situation, India's batting coach, Sitanshu Kotak, intervened and separated the two. Other members of the support staff also stepped in to calm the situation. It is believed that the argument revolved around the pitches allocated for India's practice session.

The timing of this incident adds another layer of intensity to the already high-stakes Test series. With the series poised at 2-1 in favor of England after the fourth Test ended in a draw, both teams are gearing up for a final showdown at The Oval. The pressure is on India to perform well in the last Test.