Following the heated confrontation between Gautam Gambhir and curator Lee Fortis, India batting coach Sitanshu Kotak confirmed no formal complaint would be lodged.
No Official Complaint from India After Gambhir-Fortis Spat, Confirms Kotak
India batting coach Sitanshu Kotak has confirmed that the team will not be filing any formal complaint following the heated exchange between head coach Gautam Gambhir and Surrey’s chief curator Lee Fortis. The altercation, which occurred during India’s net session at The Oval, quickly went viral as footage showed Gambhir in a visibly agitated argument with Fortis.
The incident reportedly began when Fortis intervened during the practice session to protect certain areas of the pitch, as the ground was scheduled to host domestic matches later in the season. Gambhir, unhappy with the interruption, was caught on camera raising his voice and pointing his finger at Fortis, saying, “You’re just the groundsman, nothing beyond,” and, “You can’t tell us what to do.” In response, Fortis warned that he might file a formal complaint, to which Gambhir shot back, “You can go and report to whoever you want.”
Despite the public nature of the argument and the controversy it stirred, Kotak dismissed the idea of escalating the matter further. “No, I do not think there is any point in complaining,” he said during a press conference on Tuesday, which was dominated by questions about the incident. Kotak emphasized that the focus should return to cricket and not be derailed by off-field disputes.
The verbal spat adds to a series already marred by tension, with multiple off-field incidents distracting from the actual cricket being played. Kotak was also seen attempting to mediate between the two parties during the confrontation, signaling the team’s preference for a diplomatic resolution rather than confrontation.
With no official complaint planned, India appears keen to move past the episode and maintain focus ahead of the crucial matches in the World Championship of Legends.
Kotak defends Gambhir
India batting coach Sitanshu Kotak came to Gautam Gambhir’s defense following the verbal spat between the head coach and Surrey curator Lee Fortis during a practice session at The Oval. Kotak clarified that the situation escalated after Fortis unexpectedly instructed the Indian team to maintain a distance of 2.5 metres from the pitch — a move that took the team by surprise and triggered tensions.
Kotak added that Fortis had also spoken rudely to one of India’s support staff members over placing an ice box near the main square, which further aggravated the situation. He acknowledged that curators often tend to be overprotective but maintained, “At the end of the day, it’s a cricket pitch, not an antique that you can’t touch.”
Fortis, when approached by journalists, played down the altercation, saying, “There’s nothing more to add … we have nothing to hide here.” Surrey has not released an official statement, but internal sources reportedly back Fortis, believing he was simply enforcing ground regulations.
This incident adds another layer of drama to an already fiery Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy, which has seen its fair share of heated moments — including Shubman Gill’s run-in with England openers Zak Crawley and Ben Duckett over time-wasting at Lord’s. The series stands at 2-1 in England’s favour, with the final Test beginning Thursday, promising a tense and emotional finale both on and off the field.
