New Delhi: Vinod Kambli says he owes a lot to family and Sachin Tendulkar for his improved health condition after being forced him to visit three hospitals with urinary infection amid concerns over his health.
The frail health with which he attended his coach Ramakant Achrekar’s memorial in Mumbai had sparked concerns among the Indian cricketing community. But the former Indian skipper has insisted he is on the mend now thanks to the role of his wife and son.
A prodigy who was rated to be as good if not better than his childhood friend ans team-mate Tendulkar, Kambli began his Test career with successive centuries but indisciplined lifestyle and lack of focus meant he could never fulfill his potential.
His Test career ended in 1995 and his ODI appearance for India was in an ODI in 2000, when he was only 28, after which his life spiralled out of control though he continued to play domestic cricket till 2004.
But he made headline for off-field activities rather than cricket and over the years have suffered from multiple problems, including alcoholism and heart issues.
He returned to the spotlight for the wrong reasons at the memorial service of Achrekar, where he reunited with Tendulkar, videos of which dominated social media.
Speaking to YouTuber Vicky Lalwani, Kambli said he had a health scare around a month ago with a urine infection for which he collapsed on the floor. His family – wife Andrea, son Jesus Cristiano, and daughter Johanna – nursed him back.
“I am better now. My wife takes care of me a lot. She took me to 3 different hospitals and told me ‘You have to get fit’. Ajay Jadeja also came to visit me. It felt nice. I was suffering from a urine problem. It was just flowing,” he said to Lalwani.
“My son, Jesus Cristiano, picked me up and brought me back to my feet. My daughter, who is 10 years old, and my wife came to help me. This happened one month ago. My head started spinning; I collapsed and fell down. The doctor told me to get admitted.”
‘Sachin helped me financially’
Though thick friends once, Kambli’s relationship with Tendulkar soured in 2009 when the former left hand batter hinted at not getting enough help to prevent his decline.
But over time, they have reconciled and Kambli spoke fondly of Tendulkar, grateful for helping him undergo two operations.
“We are cricketers. we get hurt. When we got out, we also get hurt. Sachin did everything for me. I had two operations in 2013. He helped financially. Sachin told me how to play. I made nine comebacks,” Kambli said.
“At that time, it came in my mind (that Sachin did not help). I was extremely frustrated. I called him. Childhood friendship came forward.”
On-field memories
Often considered one of India’s finest left hand batters, the 52-year-old made his Test debut in 1993 and played his last five-day game in 1995. In 17 Tests, he had scored 1,084 runs at an average of 54.20, including four centuries
He made a mark with a 224-run knock against England at Wankhede Stadium in 1993, his maiden century in only his third match. Kambli recalled the knock that holds a special place in his heart.
“The double hundred which I scored at Wankhede, I will cherish it the most. I had Achrekar sir with me, and our teammates… what a team that was. We had Anil Kumble, Rajesh Chauhan, Venkatesh Prasad. We used to win a lot.
“Against Sri Lanka, we used to have some wonderful battles. I used to tell him ‘Murali, haath to seedha kar (Get your arms straight).’ He would then reply in his native language,” he remembered.
Vinod Kambli has spoken about his health woes, the role of his family in nursing him back to fitness and how much help he received from friend Sachin Tendulkar Cricket Sports News: Latest Cricket News, Cricket Live Score, Sports Breaking News from Sports Today
