Former Indian cricketer and World Cup-winning captain Kapil Dev has expressed deep concern over Vinod Kambli’s deteriorating condition, emphasizing the importance of self-help alongside external support. Kambli, who has been grappling with alcohol addiction and other health issues, recently sparked widespread concern after a video from an event honouring his late coach, Ramakant Achrekar, went viral.
The event, attended by cricket legend Sachin Tendulkar, captured troubling footage of Kambli clutching Tendulkar’s hand, seemingly unwilling to let go and struggling with his speech. These moments have reignited discussions about Kambli’s struggles and the urgent need for intervention.
Kambli, who represented India in 17 Tests and 104 ODIs between 1991 and 2000, amassed 3,561 runs across formats during his career. Despite his on-field success, his off-field battles with addiction have strained his relationships within the cricketing fraternity.
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The 1983 World Cup-winning team has now stepped in to offer support. However, Kapil Dev underscored that any effort will only succeed if Kambli himself is willing to take the first steps toward recovery.
VIDEO | “We should all try to support him (Vinod Kambli), more than I trying to support him, he should support himself, we can’t look after him if he does not want to look after himself so all the cricketers feel very sad to see him and I wish he or his closest friends spending… pic.twitter.com/ePeGSdNwfD
— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) December 9, 2024
“We should all try to support him. But more than us, he has to support himself. We can’t look after anybody if that person can’t look after himself,” Kapil Dev said during the launch of the Vishwa Samudra Open. He also urged Kambli’s close friends to encourage him to seek rehabilitation, stating, “People do get this illness, but you have to get back to rehab.”
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Legendary batter Sunil Gavaskar echoed these sentiments, expressing solidarity with Kambli. “What the ’83 team wants to do is take care of him. We want to help Vinod Kambli get back on his feet,” Gavaskar said, reinforcing the team’s collective resolve to support their former teammate.
This show of unity reflects the cricketing fraternity’s enduring camaraderie and their hope that Kambli can overcome his challenges with the right guidance and effort.
