Kapil Dev and the 1983 World Cup champions pledge assistance to Vinod Kambli, but with one stipulation…

New Delhi: Concerns have been raised among fans after former Indian cricketer Vinod Kambli's recent appearance at a memorial event for legendary coach Ramakant Achrekar. A viral video from the event shows Kambli struggling to stand and holding onto his childhood friend Sachin Tendulkar's hand tightly, unable to let go. This comes after a previous clip showing Kambli struggling to walk properly on the road. A close friend has revealed that Kambli has been facing serious health issues and has undergone rehabilitation 14 times already.

“He has severe, multiple health issues,” Marcus Couto, a former first-class umpire, told Times of India.

“There’s no point in him going for rehab—Kambli has already gone to rehab 14 times! Thrice we took him to a rehab in Vasai.”

Couto had visited Vinod Kambli at his Bandra residence in August after the first video of the former cricketer struggling to walk on the street went viral on social media.

Vinod Kambli has also received support from legendary Indian cricket captain Kapil Dev, who expressed concern for his well-being. However, Kapil emphasized that Kambli must take the initiative and make the first move toward his recovery.

“Kapil (Dev, captain of the 1983 team) has told me clearly that if he wants to go to rehab, then we are willing to help him financially,” said former India fast bowler Balwinder Singh Sandhu.

“However, he has to check into rehab himself first. Only if he does that, we are ready to foot the bill, irrespective of how long the treatment lasts,” Sandhu added.

Widely regarded as two of India’s most gifted cricketing talents, Sachin Tendulkar and Vinod Kambli started their cricketing journeys together, showcasing immense promise from the very beginning.

The duo etched their names in cricketing history with a remarkable 664-run partnership for Shardashram Vidyamandir in a Harris Shield match, with both scoring unbeaten triple centuries. While both went on to represent India at the highest level, Kambli’s career faltered early, largely due to disciplinary issues.