Former Indian opener Aakash Chopra has taken a strong stance against Oval curator Lee Fortis, accusing him of hypocrisy following a heated altercation between Fortis and India head coach Gautam Gambhir. Ahead of the fifth and final Test of the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy 2025, Gambhir was involved in a fiery exchange with Fortis, who reportedly asked the Indian staff to stay 2.5 meters away from the pitch.

This directive came while they were inspecting the surface ahead of the crucial series decider. Chopra backed Gambhir, posting a telling photo from the 2023 Ashes series that showed Fortis standing directly on the pitch alongside England head coach Brendon McCullum just 48 hours before the match.

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“Different rules for different people?” Aakash Chopra asked pointedly in a video shared on X, adding weight to the ongoing criticism of double standards. Highlighting the absurdity of the situation, Chopra emphasized that members of the Indian team were wearing rubber-spiked shoes, which are known not to harm the pitch.

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

The frustration from the Indian camp, led by Gambhir, was clear. A viral video captured Gambhir’s reaction, where he told Fortis, “You’re just a groundsman… stay in your capacity,” firmly rejecting Fortis’ authority to dictate terms to the coaching staff. Meanwhile, the Test series is finely poised. England lead 2-1, having clinched the first and third matches with hard-fought wins.

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India’s only victory came at Edgbaston, where Shubman Gill amassed 430 runs in the match and pacer Akash Deep starred with a ten-wicket haul. The previous Test at Old Trafford ended in a draw, with India’s batting lineup putting on a resilient display led by three centurions in the second innings, keeping the series alive and setting the stage for a thrilling finale at The Oval.