Earlier this month, a video went viral on social media, showing former Indian cricketer Vinod Kambli in a fragile state.
Kambli, visibly frail and physically weak, was seen struggling to stand up on his feet when his childhood friend and batting maestro 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 clip deepened the worries of Indian cricket fraternity.
While legends like Kapil Dev and Sunil Gavaskar have stepped forward to help Kambli over the last few days, the man himself has now expressed his willingness to fight back and put an end to health issues.
In an interview, Kambli also spilled beans on his bond with Tendulkar, especially after 2009 when he had accused the Master Blaster of turning his back on him.
Kambli revealed that Tendulkar had provided him financial assistance when he underwent surgeries in 2013.
"At that time, it came to my mind that Sachin didn't help. I was extremely frustrated. But Sachin did everything for me, including paying for my two surgeries in 2013. We spoke, and childhood friendship came forward," Kambli said on The Viky Lalwani Show.
"Sachin told me how to play. I made nine comebacks. We are cricketers; we get hurt. When we get out, we also get hurt," he added.
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.
Recalling some of the best moments of his cricket career, Kambli said he still cherishes the double hundred (224) he scored against England at the Wankhede Stadium in 1993.
"The double hundred at Wankhede, I will cherish the most. Achrekar sir was with me, and we had such a great team. I used to have fun battles with Muttiah Muralitharan and our other opponents," Kambli remarked.
"My journey wasn't perfect, but I gave it my all. I'm grateful for the support of my family and friends like Sachin," he further stated.
