A new video going viral on social media purports to show former Indian cricketer Vinod Kambli in a fragile state. Kambli, visibly frail and physically weak, was seen struggling to stand up on his feet, especially when his childhood friend Sachin Tendulkar went to meet him during an event in Mumbai.
Kambli has been dealing with health issues in recent years, and this heart-wrenching moment deepened the worries of fans and former teammates alike.
"He has severe, multiple health issues," revealed Marcus Couto, a former first-class umpire who is close to Kambli, while speaking to TOI.
“There's no point in him going for rehab—Kambli has already gone to rehab 14 times! Thrice we took him to a rehab in Vasai.”
The support for Kambli has now come from the cricket fraternity. The members of India’s 1983 World Cup-winning squad have stepped forward to offer assistance, given the proviso that Kambli must be willing to take the first step towards recovery.
“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 Balwinder Singh Sandhu told TOI.
"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," he added.
“It is well known his troubles start and end with alcohol. Kapil has had a bad experience with him. He had helped him get a job as a cricket expert on a New Delhi news channel, but Kambli only showed up a couple of times and then just stopped. I've asked Nilesh (Kulkarni), Abey (Kuruvilla) and Paras (Mhambrey), all who have played with him, about what can be done to help him. They have all given up on him. I've known him and Sachin from the time they were just 12. Sadly, we are losing a fine cricketer,” Sandhu further stated.
Vinod Kambli represented India in 104 ODI matches, amassing 2477 runs at 32.59 with 14 fifties and two centuries. He also played 17 Test matches, scoring 1084 runs at 54.20 with four tons and three fifties.
