Vinod Kambli is Like a Son to Me, We Will Support Him: Sunil Gavaskar

Legendary cricketer Sunil Gavaskar has assured that the Indian team members who won the 1983 World Cup will take care of former Indian batter Vinod Kambli, who has been struggling with health and financial issues. Gavaskar’s statement follows a similar assurance recently made by Kapil Dev, the captain of the 1983 World Cup-winning team.

The comments from Sunil Gavaskar come amidst growing concerns about Vinod Kambli’s condition. A recent event in Mumbai, held in memory of renowned cricket coach Ramakant Achrekar, was attended by Sachin Tendulkar, Vinod Kambli, and others. A heartwarming video of childhood friends Tendulkar and Vinod Kambli meeting at the event went viral on social media. In the video, Vinod Kambli was seen holding Tendulkar’s hand and hesitating to let go. Another clip of Vinod Kambli singing a Bollywood song also gained attention online. However, Vinod Kambli appeared to have difficulty speaking during the event, which drew further attention to his struggles.

Earlier, a viral video from August showed Vinod Kambli having difficulty walking, raising concerns about his health. In this context, Sunil Gavaskar referred to Vinod Kambli as his “son” and expressed the intent of the 1983 World Cup team to support him.

“The 1983 team is concerned about young cricketers who face such unfortunate circumstances. For me, they are like my sons and grandsons. We are deeply worried about Vinod Kambli’s situation. Personally, I don't like the term ‘help.’ The 1983 team wants to take care of Vinod Kambli and ensure he gets back on his feet,” Gavaskar said in his recent remarks.

Currently in Adelaide, Australia, Sunil Gavaskar is serving as a commentator for the ongoing second Test between India and Australia, part of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy. Recently, former Indian pacer Balwinder Singh revealed that Kapil Dev had spoken to him about Vinod Kambli’s condition and promised to assist him. Sunil Gavaskar’s announcement adds significance to the efforts to support Vinod Kambli during his difficult time.