India’s legendary 1983 World Cup-winning captain, Kapil Dev, has expressed his willingness to support former cricketer Vinod Kambli, provided Kambli takes proactive steps to address his challenges. Speaking at the launch of the Vishwa Samudra Open, Kapil, who also serves as president of the Professional Golf Tour of India (PGTI), emphasized self-help as the cornerstone of any meaningful rehabilitation.
“We are all here to support him. Sunil Gavaskar has already conveyed support on behalf of the 1983 team. I am also ready to help, but more than us supporting him, he needs to support himself. We can’t help if he doesn’t want to help himself,” Kapil stated.
Concerns Over Kambli’s Health and Well-being
The cricketing fraternity has been deeply concerned about Kambli’s deteriorating health. Once celebrated for his aggressive batting style in the 1990s, Kambli now appears physically and emotionally fragile. A recent video from an event honoring coach Ramakant Achrekar—who mentored both Kambli and Sachin Tendulkar—showed the 52-year-old visibly weakened.
Leaning on Tendulkar for support, Kambli struggled to sing, with slurred speech revealing the extent of his struggles. This poignant moment reignited discussions about his condition and led to calls for collective support.
Collective Support from the Cricket Fraternity
The 1983 World Cup-winning team, led by Gavaskar and Kapil Dev, has pledged to help Kambli regain stability. Gavaskar shared their intent: “We want to take care of Vinod Kambli and help him get back on his feet.” Kambli and Tendulkar share a long-standing bond dating back to their school days at Mumbai’s Shardashram Vidyamandir, where they trained under Achrekar.
The duo’s remarkable 664-run partnership in a Harris Shield match in 1988 remains a record. While Kambli’s cricketing career spanned 17 Tests and 104 ODIs, amassing 3,561 runs, his post-retirement struggles highlight the need for a robust support system.
Kapil Dev’s message underscores the importance of individual accountability as the first step toward recovery, even as the cricketing fraternity stands united in offering assistance.
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