Sourav Ganguly has weighed in on the recent controversy involving current head coach Gautam Gambhir and The Oval’s head groundsman, Lee Fortis. The former India skipper said he was genuinely puzzled by Gambhir’s reaction and urged everyone to keep the incident in perspective.
“I really don’t know why Gambhir was upset,” Ganguly told reporters in Kolkata. “Coaches and captains have always interacted with groundsmen — sometimes pleasantly, sometimes not. It happened in my time too, and it’ll happen again in the future. Let’s not make too much out of it. I hope India play well, win the Test, and level the series.”
What Actually Happened Between Gambhir and Fortis?
On Tuesday, just two days before the crucial fifth Test of the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy, Gambhir and batting coach Sitanshu Kotak were inspecting the central pitch at The Oval. However, Surrey’s head groundsman, Lee Fortis, stopped them from getting too close. Concerned about damaging the surface due to foot traffic, Fortis asked the Indian staff to maintain a distance of at least 2.5 meters from the pitch.
This didn’t sit well with Gambhir. In a video that quickly went viral on social media, the coach was seen pointing his finger and walking aggressively toward Fortis. According to ESPNcricinfo, Gambhir allegedly told Fortis, “You’re just a groundsman,” to which Fortis reportedly responded by threatening to report him to the ICC match referee for using foul language.
Kotak Describes the Moment as “Awkward”
Speaking to the media later that day in London, batting coach Sitanshu Kotak admitted the interaction felt odd, especially since no one was wearing spikes.
“When some of us went to check the pitch, we were told to stay at least 2.5 meters away. It was surprising. The match starts the day after, it’s a five-day Test, and we were just standing in joggers,” Kotak said. “We weren’t doing anything wrong.”
He added that while the team respects the curator’s concerns, there should also be mutual understanding.
“Curators need to understand who they’re speaking to. These are experienced professionals. Even during practice sessions, we ensure the ground isn’t damaged. That’s something the head coach is very particular about.”
A Storm in a Teacup?
While the incident generated buzz online and in the media, Ganguly’s remarks serve as a reminder to not let off-field friction overshadow the bigger picture — India’s opportunity to level the series in the final Test. As cricket fans look ahead to the Oval showdown, Ganguly’s calm take brings some much-needed perspective.
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