In July 2025, India head coach Gautam Gambhir had been involved in a heated spat with Lee Fortis, the pitch curator of The Oval in England. As per British media outlet The Telegraph , the argument occurred while the ground was being prepared for a match in The Hundred 2026, and that the ECB employee left the scene in tears after the incident. A year on from that incident, Fortis has reportedly been placed on leave after being involved in another argument, this time with an employee of the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB).
The argument between Fortis and the ECB employee took place on July 28, ahead of a match between MI London and London Spirit in The Hundred 2026. India went on to win the fifth Test and draw the five-match series 2-2.
Fortis has not been seen on the ground since that incident, with some sources claiming that he may not return at all, according to the report. “Matters involving the Club and its employees are private and confidential, and therefore it would not be appropriate to comment,” a Surrey spokesperson said on the issue.
