Sachin Tendulkar and Vinod Kambli shared a deep bond that began when they were just 10 years old. Their camaraderie extended for over two decades as teammates on the cricket field. However, their relationship experienced a rift when Tendulkar, on an Indian reality show, alleged that Kambli didn’t support him during tough times.
This revelation strained their friendship, leading to years of silence. Kambli’s absence from Tendulkar’s retirement speech and subsequent gatherings reflected the fallout. Despite the hurdles, the two eventually reconciled, rekindling their friendship.
Yet, tensions between them were not new, as an incident during the 1992 ODI World Cup revealed the playful yet strained dynamics between Kambli, Tendulkar, and their teammate Sanjay Manjrekar.
A World Cup Anecdote
Sanjay Manjrekar recounted a humorous yet tense episode involving Kambli during the 1992 ODI World Cup. Although Kambli was part of the Indian squad, he didn’t feature in the playing XI for the initial matches.
Frustrated over his exclusion, he often directed his dissatisfaction at Tendulkar and Manjrekar, who were the team’s key players. Manjrekar recalled how Kambli critiqued their performances, even after successful games. After a match against Zimbabwe, where Tendulkar and Manjrekar secured a win with a strong partnership, Kambli complained they could have finished the game sooner.
He even criticized Tendulkar for not being aggressive enough against Zimbabwean bowler John Traicos, saying, “You could have hit him out of the ground.” Tendulkar’s calm reply was, “Our target was to win the match,” but Kambli persisted, showcasing his outspoken and fiery personality.
A Chance to Prove
Kambli finally got his opportunity in a high-pressure match against Pakistan. Unfortunately, his performance didn’t align with the advice he had been giving; he scored only 24 runs off 41 balls. After the game, Tendulkar and Manjrekar teasingly confronted him about his earlier criticism. They asked why he couldn’t replicate his big-hitting abilities from the net during the match.
Kambli’s candid reply was, “They were bowling very tight.” Reflecting on this, Manjrekar noted, “If there’s one person who could upset Sachin, it was Vinod Kambli. He truly was a character.” This episode highlighted Kambli’s larger-than-life personality and his unique dynamic with Tendulkar, blending friendship, rivalry, and lighthearted banter.
Get the latest cricket news here, like us on Facebook, and follow us on Twitter and Instagram for more such updates.
