Former Indian cricketer Aakash Chopra accused The Oval’s curator Lee Fortis of “hypocrisy” after tweeting a photo of him with Brendon McCullum from 2023. This was in response to the heated exchange between India’s head coach, Gautam Gambhir, and Fortis before of the fifth and final Test of the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy 2025.
Chopra questioned why Gambhir and the Indian squad were cautioned and ordered to leave the pitch but McCullum was permitted. “2023 Ashes match. 48 hours before the match, the same Oval curator can be seen standing on the pitch beside England coach Brendon McCullum.
Do different rules apply to different people? Aakash Chopra expressed this in a video posted on X (previously Twitter).
Chopra added that Gambhir’s anger was justified, and Fortis’ denial was absurd given that the Indian squad members were simply wearing rubber spikes while close to the ground. For the uninformed, Gambhir was irritated when Fortis halted India’s practice session.
“Stop it. You don’t tell us what we should do. You don’t tell us what we have to do, okay. You do not need to tell us. You don’t tell anyone in my squad what we need to do. You have no right to inform us. You’re only a groundskeeper; you stay in your role. You are only a groundsman, nothing more. “You’re just a groundsman,” Gambhir said to Fortis in a video.
Not letting Gautam Gambhir and co near the square at the Oval – Double standards much? 🤔 #Aakashvani #ENGvsIND pic.twitter.com/NALsH3y7Al
— Aakash Chopra (@cricketaakash) July 29, 2025
In the ongoing series, India trails 2-1 with one match remaining. Their only victory, a 336-run success, occurred at Edgbaston, when Shubman Gill shined with a match total of 430 runs and Akash Deep finished with a 10-wicket haul (10/187).
On the other hand, England clinched wins in the first and third Tests by five wickets and 22 runs, respectively. The recent game at Old Trafford was drawn courtesy of India’s second innings heroics with the bat. India had three centurions in the innings as they dug in and secured a hard-fought draw to keep the series alive.
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