Vinod Kambli has been ill for the last few months. He is undergoing treatment. He says that everyone always supported him in life.
Achrekar Memorial was inaugurated in Shivaji Park, Mumbai on 3 December 2024. Both Vinod Kambli and Sachin Tendulkar are disciples of Ramakant Achrekar. So both of them had reached that program. When Sachin and Kambli met on stage, that scene would have gone viral across the country.
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Vinod Kambli has been ill for a long time. Recently, when he was admitted in a hospital in Thane, Dainik Bhaskar reporter Utkarsh Kumar Singh talked to him. Read and watch the full interview…
Question- Sachin came to you at the inauguration of the Achrekar Memorial, you held his hand, what happened that day? Some people said that Sachin refused to sit with you? answer- No-no, all this is a lie. We know what happened. Tendulkar and I have played together in Shivaji Park. There is nothing like that between us.
Sachin Tendulkar met Vinod Kambli at Shivaji Park in Mumbai on 3 December 2024.
Question- You were looking very ill that day too, how did your health become so bad? answer- There was a little problem. I was not able to walk. The rest is just ifs and buts. This is life.
Question- How is your friendship with Sachin? answer- That’s great. Both of them had just met. I would say that if Sachin is left then I am right. We have had such friendship since childhood. He used to play in Bandra, used to come from there. I used to carry such a big kit bag in the local (train). In 1996, we both cried for the country. Whatever I played with Sachin, it felt great.
Question- Do you regret when you are compared with Sachin? Is one shown better? answer- Sachin’s game is different and mine is different. I played first class, I used to hit a six in the first ball. Sachin could not do this, he used to defend.
Vinod Kambli and Sachin Tendulkar started playing cricket together under the coaching of Ramakant Achrekar.
Question- You have given many statements about Sachin in the past years, do you now consider them correct? answer- Were wrong. Sachin and I have learned partnership from cricket.
Question- You had alleged that you were discriminated against in the team, is there caste politics? answer- No (After this comment Kambli maintained silence and started talking about other things)
Question- You had said that your career was ended after the 1996 World Cup, what was the reason for saying this? answer- Ask the selectors, the selectors know everything. Those people will not lie.
Question- Did your family support you, especially your father and brothers? answer- Always, everyone supported. I can never even think of leaving them in my life.
Question- Once you were admitted in the hospital, perhaps your father had asked for money, what was that matter? answer- Yes… I was in Lilavati. He had asked me for money. Where do I pay from?
Question- What were they asking for money for? answer- I don’t know, I didn’t even ask. My brother knows everything. I am also sad about that, it will always be there. After all, why was I earning, not for my father? For my brothers… should have understood.
Vinod Kambli was admitted in the hospital during the interview.
Question- How is your relationship with your brothers? answer- We are four brothers, we have a very good relationship with everyone.
Question- Do those people also demand money? answer- No. No. I always give it to him whenever I meet him.
Question- Your father was a mechanic, how struggling was it for you to play cricket? answer- It was only after watching the 1983 World Cup that I decided to play cricket. I met big players like Syed Kirmani, Roger Binny. Got to learn a lot from him. This is how I got started. (Kambli did not comment about his father and his struggle.)
Question- In the background you come from, did people there understand cricket? Did your family support cricket financially? answer- My family understood cricket. I used to give whatever money I got to them. He did not give me money. What I have been through. I used to play Bhindi in the market. That area belongs to brothers. (Kambli makes a special gesture here)Today my life is different. I remarried, have two children. I am happy with my life.
Question- When you started Ranji cricket, you hit a six on the very first ball, what do you remember about that? answer- Yes, he hit a six on the first ball. Be it Shane Warne or anyone else. We wanted to show what Achrekar sir taught.
Vinod Kambli’s wife Andrea and both children.
Question- Your career was very short, what was the reason for this? answer- I don’t know the reason for this, I just wanted to play cricket. My guru Achrekar sir taught me.
Question- Jagmohan Dalmiya had accused you of late night parties while playing, knocking on the doors of teammates under the influence of alcohol and shouting, what would you say? answer- Tell Dalmiya to come in front of me and say. Who was Dalmia? We made them.
Question- Are these allegations wrong? answer- The allegations are wrong, absolutely wrong.
Question- You were accused of being found fighting with your fiancee in the hotel room before the match in Lucknow? answer- If Dalmia has the courage then she should come and say all these things in front of me.
Question- You had also made allegations of match fixing in the 1996 World Cup semi-final, then Mohammad Azharuddin retorted and raised questions on your character and crimes, what would you say? answer- I know what Azharuddin has done. I had also told a news channel about this.
Question- You used to earn lakhs of rupees at one time, currently BCCI is giving you a pension of 30 thousand months, what do you consider to be the reason for this change? answer- (Humming a song from a Hindi film) Leave yesterday’s talk, yesterday’s talk is old….
Now I am living for my son and daughter. This is my life. Leave everything that was there before. Those things are old.
Question- Where do you think you went wrong regarding career and finance? answer- No, my wife has taken care of everything. (After this Kambli started talking away from the question)
Question- The team that won the World Cup under the leadership of Kapil Dev in 1983 wants to help you, but they want to send you to rehab first, what will you say? answer- I will definitely go. If there is anything available in rehab I will go. I also went to rehab once.
Question- Do you have any other addiction besides alcohol? answer- Never did drugs etc. Used to drink only alcohol and cigarettes. That too has been closed for 6 months.
Question- You returned to the team 9 times, but were not successful. Movies, reality shows, politics, nothing worked. What do you think is the reason for this? answer- Whatever happened to me, it was written in destiny.
Vinod Kabli celebrated Christmas in the hospital itself on 25 December 2024.
Question- Do you consider only luck as the reason or is there something else too? answer- Yes, it happened because of luck.
Question- You adopted Christianity, which religion do you follow now? answer- I will never forget Christianity in my life. My wife is also the same and both my children believe in Jesus Christ and Mother Mary. I want to go to the Vatican.
Question- After retirement from international cricket, you also got a chance to give coaching, why didn’t you do that? answer- The place where coaching was to be given was very far. (Saying this, Kambli started talking away from the question)
Question- You had asked for help from BCCI, what help did you get? answer- Yes, those people came forward and helped me.
Question- In 2023, Andrea had accused you of domestic violence, an FIR was lodged, what would you say? answer- I don’t know all this.
Question- You had also sought help from Mumbai Cricket Association, did you get it? answer- Not found.
Question- Do you feel that alcohol addiction took away a lot from your life? answer- No. I have not touched alcohol or cigarettes for 6 years. I stay away from everyone.
Question- Sachin did not take your name in his retirement speech, nor did he invite you to his party. You expressed your displeasure, did you ever ask him why he did this? answer- No problem. Recently I met him in Shivaji Park. We were sitting there.
Question- How is your house going right now, how is your treatment being managed? answer- Everything is happening. I am not begging from anyone.
Vinod Kambli’s children and wife Andrea had cut the Christmas cake in the hospital itself.
Question- Was there an attempt to assault you in the flat where you live? answer- No one has the courage to come and speak in front of Vinod Kambli.
Question- Are you unnecessarily targeted? answer- Yes, that is what I am saying.
Question- What kind of cricketer do you consider Arjun Tendulkar to be? answer- Brilliant. He goes to play in Goa.
Question- Who is your favorite cricketer at present? answer- Virat Kohli and Ravichandran Ashwin.
Question- What advice would you give to young cricketers like Prithvi Shaw whose career got affected due to mismanagement of things? answer- All I would say is that work hard and you will definitely get results. We are teaching only what we have learned from Achrekar sir.
Question- Do you have any regrets in your life? answer- I am happy. He has a wife, two children and what else do he need? My son also plays cricket. He is also left handed.