Former Indian batsman Vinod Kambli is eyeing to become a batting consultant with any one of the franchises in the Indian Premier League (IPL) next year in 2021.
A bad shin injury ruined Kambli’s cricketing career and the opportunity to play in the inaugural season of the IPL back in 2008 as well and eventually, the injury ended his career with 17 Tests and 104 ODIs for India. He still has a rod in his left leg.
Well, the 48-year-old has recently revealed that he has been dreaming to become a batting consultant in the IPL 2020 and made himself “available for any team” for the role in the upcoming 14th edition of the world’s arguably best franchise tournament next year.
Kambli told Times of India, “I’m available for any team as a batting consultant. Due to the operation on my shin, I couldn’t run and thus couldn’t play in the first edition of the IPL in 2008. I eventually pulled out of the Mumbai Ranji team and retired. I still have a rod in my left leg! However, it’s been my dream to be a batting consultant with one of the teams in the IPL.”
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On what he could bring to the table, former left-hander – who was known for his nimble footwork against spinners, said: “I’ve played and watched a lot of cricket. I have a lot of anecdotes that I can share with the youngsters. I want to assist them. Maza ayega (It will be a joy) to assist and boost the young generation.”
On the changes in the game over the years, the Mumbaikar pointed out by saying: “In our time, the powerplay used to be about the first 15 overs, after which the field used to spread out. That powerplay was like T20 cricket for us! In my time, it was challenging to play the Australian and South African fast bowlers. However, the game hasn’t changed much. I want to help batsmen with what strategy and approach to take in a T20 game.”
Kambli signed off by saying, “If you follow me on Instagram and Twitter, you’d have seen that I followed IPL 2020 very closely. All the leg-spinners were bowling googlies. It’s a challenge to face so many googlies, and I can help the batsmen in that regard.”
Noteworthy, Kambli currently coaches budding cricketers at his close friend and former teammate Sachin Tendulkar’s academy at the DY Patil Stadium in Navi Mumbai, and at the MCA club in BKC.
