'He must help himself first': Kapil Dev on Vinod Kambli’s recovery
"More than us trying to support him, he must support himself. We can’t look after him if he doesn’t want to look after himself," said Kapil Dev.
Kapil Dev, India's legendary 1983 World Cup-winning captain, has offered his support to former cricketer Vinod Kambli, but only if Kambli takes the first steps to address his own struggles.
Kambli, who played 17 Tests and 104 One-Day Internationals for India between 1991 and 2000, scoring 3,561 runs, has been battling deteriorating health and personal challenges in recent years.
Speaking at the launch of the Vishwa Samudra Open on 9 December, Kapil Dev, who also serves as the president of the Professional Golf Tour of India (PGTI), stressed the importance of self-help as the foundation for rehabilitation.
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"We are all here to support him. Sunil Gavaskar has already told me on behalf of the 1983 World Cup-winning team, and I extend my help as well. But more than us trying to support him, he must support himself. We can't look after him if he doesn't want to look after himself," said Kapil Dev.
Kambli's struggles
Kambli, once celebrated for his flamboyant batting style in the 1990s, has recently been seen in a frail and vulnerable state.
Concerns for his well-being intensified after a video surfaced during an event commemorating the legacy of Ramakant Achrekar, the coach who mentored both Kambli and Sachin Tendulkar.
The footage showed Kambli, now 52, appearing physically weakened and emotionally fragile, leaning on Tendulkar for support. At one point, he struggled to speak clearly, with his slurred speech highlighting his condition.
The event served as a stark reminder of Kambli's current struggles, leaving the cricketing fraternity deeply saddened. Sunil Gavaskar, echoing the sentiments of the 1983 World Cup-winning team, pledged collective support for Kambli.
"What the '83 team wants to do is take care of him. We want to help him get back on his feet," Gavaskar said.
Kambli and Tendulkar's cricketing journeys began together at Mumbai's Shardashram Vidyamandir school, where they trained under Achrekar's guidance.
The duo famously forged an unbroken 664-run partnership in the Harris Shield semi-final against St Xavier's High School in 1988.
However, while Tendulkar went on to become one of cricket's greatest legends, Kambli's career was marked by early promise that faded too soon.
