NEW DELHI: Legendary cricketer Kapil Dev, the skipper of the 1983 World Cup-winning team on Monday has expressed deep concern over the struggles of former Indian batter Vinod Kambli.
Speaking at the launch of the Vishwa Samudra Open, Kapil, also the president of the Professional Golf Tour of India (PGTI), discussed the importance of self-accountability, stating, “We can’t look after anybody if he can’t look after himself.”
His heartfelt remarks come amid the growing worries about Kambli’s health and well-being.
Kapil urged Kambli to prioritize his own recovery, saying, “More than supporting him, he has to support himself. All the cricketers feel very sad seeing his current condition. I wish his closest friends would spend time with him and encourage him to go back to rehab, get rid of this illness.”
While pledging support, Kapil stated that he is concerned about the well-being of his compatriot, adding, “He has to first go back and look after himself. I am concerned as a sportsperson, and he has been going through a rough time.”
Kambli’s struggles became evident during a recent public event honouring his late coach, Ramakant Achrekar.
At the memorial, attended by childhood friend and cricket legend Sachin Tendulkar, Kambli was seen exhibiting slurred speech and difficulty in maintaining composure.
He emotionally clung to Tendulkar’s hand, underlining the bond they shared since their Shardashram Vidyamandir school days, where they famously stitched together a record 664-run partnership in a Harris Shield match.
Kambli’s promising cricket career included memorable performances such as two Test double centuries. However, his international journey was cut short, with only 17 Tests and 104 ODIs under his belt.
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The cricketing fraternity, including Sunil Gavaskar and the 1983 World Cup-winning team recently extended its collective support. Gavaskar assured, “What the ’83 team wants to do is take care of him. We want to take care of Vinod Kambli and help him get back on his feet.”