New Delhi: Legendary Indian cricketer Sachin Tendulkar reunited with his childhood friend Vinod Kambli at the unveiling of a memorial for their iconic coach, Ramakant Achrekar, in Mumbai on Tuesday, December 3. Both Tendulkar and Kambli were mentored by Achrekar, who played a pivotal role in shaping their cricketing careers.
During the meeting, Kambli, who has been facing health challenges, was unable to stand up to greet Tendulkar properly.
VIDEO | Indian cricketing legend Sachin Tendulkar (@sachin_rt) met his childhood friend and former Indian cricketer Vinod Kambli at the unveiling ceremony of memorial for legendary cricket coach Ramakant Achrekar in Mumbai. pic.twitter.com/uTgW0MIfax
— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) December 3, 2024
The duo garnered attention for their exceptional batting skills from a young age, notably setting a record with a 664-run partnership in school cricket. Kambli and Tendulkar became two of the greatest protégés of Achrekar, fulfilling their dream of representing India. Recently, the childhood friends reunited at an event to unveil a memorial dedicated to their beloved coach.
Kambli has been facing a difficult time recently, with a viral video showing him struggling to walk, which raised concerns among his fans about his health. In 2022, Kambli spoke about his financial struggles, revealing that he relies solely on the pension from the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), which helps support his family.
While both Tendulkar and Kambli achieved their dream of representing the country, Tendulkar went on to surpass his good friend on the cricket field, finishing his career as the most prolific batter in the history of the game. Kambli, who was once considered even more talented than Tendulkar, began his career with a stunning double century in just his second match against England, showcasing his immense potential.
Kambli followed up his incredible debut with another double century in his third Test, this time against Zimbabwe, becoming the first Indian batter to score back-to-back 200s in Tests and the third overall. He continued to impress, scoring two more centuries in his first seven Tests against Sri Lanka. However, his career took a downturn as he struggled with consistency, failing to score a half-century in his last ten innings, which included three ducks. In total, Kambli played 17 Tests, amassing 1,084 runs at an average of 54.20, with four centuries and three fifties.
In ODIs, Kambli featured in 104 matches, accumulating 2,477 runs from 97 innings at an average of 32.59 and a strike rate of 71.94, including two centuries and 14 fifties. His last appearance for India came in October 2000 against Sri Lanka in Sharjah, after which he never donned the national colors again. Kambli officially announced his retirement from international cricket in 2009.
