During a recent public appearance, former Indian batsman Vinod Kambli was seen in a steeper ill-health situation than was previously known. He looked weak in the limbs with fellow cricketers like Sachin Tendulkar, Pravin Amre, Balwinder Singh Sandhu, and Sanjay Bangar during the memorial event of legendary coach Ramakant Achrekar. A video that has gone viral shows him clinging to his childhood friend Tendulkar and has set a chain of worry.
Many were covered by various media reports regarding the battles Kambli has undergone. The previous addiction to alcohol had resulted in many clashes with his friends in the cricketing circle. However now, it appears that Indian members of the 1983 World Cup-winning team have decided to extend a helping hand to him, just that Kambli will have to take the first step.
“Kapil (Dev, captain of the 1983 team) has told me clearly that if he wants to go to rehab, then we are willing to help him financially,” former India seamer Sandhu was quoted as saying by hindustantimes.com.
“However, he has to check into rehab himself first. Only if he does that, we are ready to foot the bill, irrespective of how long the treatment lasts,” Sandhu added.
This isn’t the first episode of Kapil Dev & Co. coming forward to offer financial assistance to a former Indian cricketer. Earlier, the heroes of the ’83 World Cup also supported former opener and coach Anshuman Gaekwad in his battle against cancer.
Indian Times have reported that the former first-class umpire, having a close contact with Kambli, quoted to the publication about the former cricketer has severe health issues. “He has severe, multiple health issues,” Couto said.
“He wouldn’t go to rehab because Kambli has seen rehab 14 times! Three times we’ve taken him to Vasai rehab,” he said.
Kambli made his international debut back in 1993 and went on to play 17 Tests and 104 ODIs for his country. He played these first two Tests of his career and then proceeded to register two double hundreds consecutively, one against England and the other against Zimbabwe, before coming up with a century in Sri Lanka as well.
Kambli scored 1,084 runs in Tests and 2,477 runs in ODIs, with four and two centuries to show for each format, respectively.
