New Delhi: Vinod Kambli and Sachin Tendulkar, both prodigious talents nurtured under the guidance of legendary coach Ramakant Achrekar, became exceptional batsmen, but their careers took strikingly different paths. While Tendulkar ascended to cricketing immortality, earning the title of the ‘God of Cricket’ with a record-breaking 100 international centuries, Kambli’s career failed to fulfill its immense promise. Struggling with controversies and personal challenges, both on and off the field, Kambli’s journey never reached the heights that many had once expected.
The media has been covering Vinod Kambli’s declining health for some time, but it was only during a recent public appearance that his true condition became clear. At a memorial event for the late Ramakant Achrekar in Mumbai, Kambli shared the stage with his longtime friend, Sachin Tendulkar, but appeared visibly frail. Several videos from the event went viral, showing Kambli leaning on Tendulkar for support and singing a song with a trembling voice, which prompted widespread concern among fans.
Kambli’s fall from fame to hardship is a sorrowful tale. Once regarded as more talented than Sachin Tendulkar, the left-handed batsman’s international career spanned only nine years. He made his ODI debut in 1991 and played his first Test in 1993. However, he quickly made a mark, scoring back-to-back double-centuries in only his fourth and fifth innings. He continued his impressive form, adding a few more centuries to his tally, all within a few months.
In 1989, Tendulkar became the youngest player to debut in a Test match for India, and he scored his first Test century in 1990 against England in Manchester. However, it took him a full decade to reach the milestone of a double century in Test cricket. Sachin achieved his first Test double hundred in 1999, against New Zealand in Ahmedabad, four years after Kambli had played his final Test match, also against the Kiwis, in 1995.
Kambli scored his first Test century in just his fourth innings, while Sachin reached his maiden Test ton in his 15th innings.
Over the next 14 years, Sachin broke numerous batting records and achieved the remarkable feat of 100 international centuries, including 51 Test hundreds, six of which were double centuries.
In contrast, Kambli received more opportunities in ODIs after his final Test match in 1995. Over the next nine years, he played 104 One-Day Internationals, amassing 2,477 runs at an average of 32.29. He retired with 1,084 runs from 17 Test matches, boasting an impressive average of 54.20.
