Indian men’s head coach Gautam Gambhir made headlines on Wednesday after a now-viral video showed him giving a cold shoulder to Kennington Oval curator Lee Fortis ahead of the fifth and final Test against England, beginning Thursday. The video shows Gambhir appearing to deliberately ignore Fortis, walking past him without any acknowledgment, while India captain Shubman Gill engaged briefly with the curator.
The incident follows a tense exchange between Gambhir and Fortis during India’s optional training session on Tuesday. According to news agency PTI, the altercation was sparked when Fortis instructed Indian team staff to keep a 2.5-metre distance from the main square and raised objections to equipment being wheeled too close to the pitch.
When Lee Fortis met Gautam Gambhir again…#ENGvsIND pic.twitter.com/rw9JLgqD8N
— Sandipan Banerjee (@im_sandipan) July 30, 2025
Tensions escalated online after a photograph resurfaced showing Fortis standing on the pitch alongside England head coach Brendon McCullum during a 2023 match. The contrasting treatment has led to speculation about potential bias and fuelled further scrutiny of the surface prepared for the decider.
It remains unclear whether the Indian camp has formally raised concerns about the pitch, though early indications suggest it may offer more pace and bounce than the previous four Tests, conditions that could favour England’s fast bowlers. England`s bowling unit has lacked bite in certain spells, notably during India’s second innings at Old Trafford, where they managed only four wickets across 143 overs as the fourth Test ended in a draw.
The series has steadily grown more intense, both on and off the field. At Old Trafford, India declined to shake hands after the draw, choosing instead to allow Ravindra Jadeja and Washington Sundar to complete their centuries. The move was met with visible frustration from the English camp. Earlier, Shubman Gill had accused England of breaching the `spirit of cricket` with alleged time-wasting tactics during the third Test at Lord’s. Meanwhile, India’s Mohammed Siraj was fined for his aggressive send-off to England’s Ben Duckett in the same match.
India will also be forced into changes after a major injury blow. Star wicketkeeper-batsman Rishabh Pant, who scored 479 runs at an average of 68.42 in the series, has been ruled out of the final Test after fracturing his right foot. Narayan Jagadeesan has been brought in as his replacement.
Another key decision looms over Jasprit Bumrah’s participation. Having already played three Tests, the limit set by the team’s management ahead of the series, his inclusion remains uncertain. However, Gambhir has confirmed that all of India’s fast bowlers are fit and available for selection.
(With AFP inputs)
