New Delhi: Former India cricketer Vinod Kambli remembers the first six he hit against Pakistan’s Iqbal Sikander. He remembers the centuries and the double centuries. He remembers the media hype for a young left-handed middle-order batsman from Mumbai who appeared destined for a long, glittering career in Indian cricket.
These days, he recounts those innings to his roommate at NIDAN Centre for Elderly Care in Thane, Maharashtra.
“It feels very good staying with Vinod Kambliji. He remembers his old days and talks to me about them. He is a gem of a person,” 70-year-old Laxmi Narayan told ThePrint.
In a video released from the centre, 54-year-old Kambli spoke about the facility, drawing widespread public attention and concern.
“I am currently undergoing treatment in NIDAN. The facilities here are excellent. The cleanliness and everything here is very good. Staying here, I never feel like I am away from home. I receive a lot of love and respect from the people here,” Kambli said.
Strict routine, singing sessions
Kambli went home on Friday to attend Ganesh Puja after spending three weeks at the centre.
He was admitted to the elderly care centre after receiving treatment at a nearby hospital in Thane. Dr Mahesh Naik, founder of NIDAN, said that the centre was being used to give Kambli a change of surroundings while helping him cope with his daily routine.
“Shailesh Agarwal, Kambli’s lifetime doctor, is my friend. After his treatment at the hospital, Agarwal had sent him to my centre as he was refusing to eat or drink. Hence, we had brought him here,” he said. “The change of atmosphere would help him to get along well with the current scenario. On 23 September, we asked him to do a review video for us. He just did it for fun, and it went viral. He has also volunteered to help in our centre.”
At NIDAN, Kambli followed a strict set of routines throughout the day, and several activities were carried out to keep him engaged.
“Kambliji is being taken good care of. His day started with a morning walk. Then after breakfast, we went for a regular medical check-up. That was followed by yoga and then lunch,” said Ranjana Yogesh Davane, Kambli’s attendant and secretary at NIDAN. “We had a singing session in the evening and physiotherapy. He participated in everything with much excitement.”
Davane, who has been working with NIDAN since 2021, added that the atmosphere at the centre appeared to suit Kambli.
“He enjoys the activities and the environment at our elderly care,” she said.
‘We have a legend with us’
Kambli first came into the spotlight as a schoolboy alongside Sachin Tendulkar. The pair shared a then-world-record of 664-run partnership for Shardashram Vidyamandir in the Harris Shield, with Kambli scoring 349. Kambli made his first-class debut for Mumbai in the 1989-90 season and made his ODI debut against Pakistan in 1991.
His Test career began in 1993. In only his third Test, against England at the Wankhede Stadium, he scored 224. In the following Test against Zimbabwe, he made 227. Against Sri Lanka, he scored 125 and 120.
Kambli reached 1,000 Test runs in 14 innings, which remains the fastest by an Indian. He played 17 Tests, scoring 1,084 runs at an average of 54.20, with four centuries, including two double-centuries. He also played 104 ODIs, scoring 2,477 runs and making two centuries.
His international career was brief. His last Test came in 1995, when he was 23, while his final ODI was in 2000. He continued playing domestic cricket and eventually finished with 9,965 first-class runs and 35 centuries before retiring from first-class cricket in 2011.
Following his exit from the game, Kambli’s health deteriorated due to his prolonged struggle with alcoholism, resulting in major health crises including a cardiac arrest in 2013, depression, and severe mobility issues. He has reportedly attended rehabilitation centers 14 times.
“There are rules and regulations which everyone has to follow. If there are any rules that don’t allow you to do certain things, everyone must follow them. I will stop it [drinking] immediately if told to do so…no problem at all!” Kambli said after making an open plea to the Mumbai Cricket Association for a job in 2022.
Tendulkar, Kapil Dev, and Sunil Gavaskar, along with members of the 1983 World Cup-winning team, offered Kambli medical help—with one strict rule.
“Kapil has told me clearly that if he wants to go to rehab, then we are willing to help him financially… 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,” Balwinder Singh Sandhu, one of the members of the 1983 Cricket World Cup squad, told Firstpost.
For now, NIDAN has opened its gates for the former cricketer whenever he needs it.
“We have a legend with us. We have an idol. We want to keep him here for a lifetime. Whenever he feels like it, whenever he wants to relax or change his atmosphere, he can come and stay with us,” Naik said. “He is always welcome here.”
(Edited by Prasanna Bachchhav)