Kapil Dev Urges Vinod Kambli to Take Charge of His Health
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New Delhi, Dec 9 (NationPress) Kapil Dev, the revered captain of India’s 1983 World Cup-winning squad, has stated his readiness to support Vinod Kambli, a former cricketer, on the condition that the Mumbai luminary takes the necessary steps to tackle his issues. Kambli represented India in 17 Tests and 104 One-Day Internationals from 1991 to 2000, scoring a combined total of 3,561 runs in these formats.
Kapil Dev highlighted the critical role of self-initiative in achieving effective recovery.
During the inauguration of the Vishwa Samudra Open, where he also serves as president of the Professional Golf Tour of India (PGTI), he remarked, "We are all here to support him. Sunil Gavaskar has already conveyed to me on behalf of the 1983 World Cup-winning team, and I extend my assistance personally, but it is essential that he takes the first step towards self-support. We cannot look after him if he does not want to take care of himself," said Kapil Dev on Monday.
His remarks come amid rising worries regarding Kambli’s declining health and overall well-being, which has caused concern within the cricket community. Once celebrated for his dynamic batting in the 1990s, Kambli is now in a vulnerable state, both physically and mentally.
The heartfelt message coincided with a video that emerged at a tribute event for coach Ramakant Achrekar, who mentored both Kambli and Sachin Tendulkar. The video depicted Kambli, aged 52, looking frail and significantly thinner, leaning on Tendulkar for support. At one moment, he struggled to sing, and his slurred speech revealed his condition.
The cricketing community, including the members of the 1983 World Cup-winning team, has recently shown their unified support. Gavaskar reassured, "What the '83 team aims to do is to care for him. We wish to support Vinod Kambli and assist him in regaining his strength."
Kambli and Tendulkar both attended Shardashram Vidyamandir school in Mumbai and participated in nets organized by Achrekar. At 17, Kambli, alongside the 16-year-old Tendulkar, set a world record with an unbroken partnership of 664 runs against St Xavier's High School in the Harris Shield semifinal in 1988.
