Shubman Gill Slams Oval Curator Amid Feud with Gautam Gambhir

Gill-Gambhir Clash Intensifies Amid Oval Pitch Controversy During IPL 2025

A young batter has given his first voice since the incident, indirectly blaming the Oval Stadium curator for exacerbating it. Gill's comments come in the aftermath of turmoil in discussions around pitch behavior, team tensions, and the pros and cons of professional conduct in the IPL. 

A flashpoint occurred behind the scenes during a tense IPL 2025 league clash at Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad. This led to further tensions during a training session at The Oval in London, where both teams happened to cross paths while preparing for their next fixtures.

It is said that an altercation erupted between Gambhir, Gill, and members of the ground staff, opening more speculation on the real matter behind the argument.

Gill Blames Oval Curator for Worsening Feud

During his press encounter on Tuesday, Gill took a very thinly veiled dig at the stadium curator by saying that interference by the off-field personnel had done more harm than good to an already delicate situation.

Shubman Gill stated, "The affair is common knowledge now. That is sometimes when outside forces try to interfere with the game. It is less than desirable for someone who should be concentrating on pitch preparation to get involved." 

Though he never mentioned anyone directly, the implication was widely interpreted to be directed at the head curator at the Oval. The curator reportedly attempted to intervene in the dispute between the two players but aggravated Gambhir with remarks regarding KKR's tactics. 

The sources close to the teams reported that the situation at The Oval stemmed from an earlier verbal exchange between Gill and Gambhir in the IPL fixture, during which the veteran mentor reportedly derided Gujarat Titans' use of spin in the death overs.

Gill, unperturbed then, returned fire post-match in his press conference, subtly questioning KKR's tactics and hinting at ‘old-school thinking.’

But the drama was still far from over. Reports suggested that the Oval curator believed in maintaining longstanding relations with the KKR franchise. This remark kicked off another war of words. That led to an altercation involving Gambhir and a few of the support staff.

Gambhir, considered an uncompromising person, has refused to comment publicly on the incident, but KKR insiders say he felt the interference was ‘crossing a professional line.’

The BCCI has yet to make an official statement, though an internal probe is likely being carried out, mainly concerning the activity of venue officials in stirring team disputes.

Are Curators Crossing the Line in IPL?

As the IPL entered the playoffs, the pitch controversy drew attention not only to player conduct but also to the behind-the-scenes machinations of team management, pitch curation, and personality clashes. 

Intending to lead GT to a repeat title, Gill ended with his trademark remark, asking “everyone to stay in their lane.”

“We’re here to play cricket. Let the players play, and the curators stick to pitches,” Gill declared with a vehement tone.

The incident reminds us that in high-stakes tournaments like the IPL, tensions can flare both on and off the field, and sometimes, unexpected characters ignite the flames.