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March 2, 2011Posted on 03/02/2011 in Indian cricket
A chance encounter with Kambli
From Ashok Sridharan, United Arab Emirates
Vinod Kambli: the Archie Jackson to Tendulkar's Bradman?
© Getty ImagesI was checking in at the Mumbai airport recently when I saw a familiar face at the neighbouring counter. At first I thought I recognised him, but I wasn't so sure since no one else was. He quietly checked in and started walking towards the security check when I mustered the courage to walk up to the man and talk to him. As it happened, my eyes weren't deceiving me. It was indeed Vinod Kambli. The man with two double-centuries and a Test average of over 50, the man who played his last Test at the tender age of 23 was standing right before my eyes!
He was delighted hear me recount that match in Sharjah eons ago when he took Shane Warne to the cleaners and still more so when I asked him for his autograph. It was in many ways a poignant moment. Here was a man no one around seemed to know or recognise (or perhaps care to acknowledge) and yet, this very same person could have been one of the all-time greats.
There was a time when he was bracketed along with Sachin Tendulkar as one of the most promising young players in world cricket. For the pre-teen boy that I was back then, the flamboyant and self-assured Kambli was far more attractive to watch than the more sober Tendulkar. Today, nearly two decades later, Sachin Tendulkar is widely acknowledged as one of the all-time greats.
Vinod Kambli is a name that is no more than a footnote- the Archie Jackson to Tendulkar's Bradman. Kambli was a man with extraordinary talent who never quite made it big - India's very own Hick, except he was dropped at 23 and never again given a shot at redemption. As many people of my age would concur, life in reality turned out to be an awful lot different from what we imagined it to be in our teenage years/early 20s. I met at the Mumbai airport that day, the very embodiment of that harsh reality.
Posted by: Daison Garvasis at March 2, 2011 10:11 AM
I still remember us students boycotting classes in college and giving a demonstration to the town center when Kambli was dropped from team in 1992!
Posted by: Chandrajeet at March 2, 2011 2:19 PM
I like it so much. I was a big time fan of Kambali. I can say he was better batsman than Tendulkar....
Posted by: Anish Tulsian at March 2, 2011 2:57 PM
Kambli could have been another Tendulkar. Unfortunate him and Indian Cricket.
Posted by: Venkat at March 2, 2011 3:28 PM
Politics is everything in Indian cricket
Posted by: Mohan at March 3, 2011 5:27 AM
Vinod Kambli was the batsman comparable to Sachin only on flat tracks.He was mainly taken out because he was so inconsistent against West Indies and South Africa(after 1996 WC)as well as he was vulnerable against short-ball.His lifestyle also did not help him either.And eventually he was not even picked up for Mumbai team.
Posted by: rahul at March 3, 2011 11:20 AM
kambli was quite unfortunate by the manner he was treated by the indian selectors.he deserved a few more chances atleast in the tests.
Posted by: mcswiggle at March 3, 2011 12:30 PM
What a nice article, but I would have liked to hear a bit about what Kambli is up to these days.
Posted by: shailbuch at March 5, 2011 2:41 PM
Everyone knows he was a great talent. A cole that could have turned into diamond in 10 years. But still a celebrity enough to be recognized by people like us.... And acknowledged talent. He still can pick it up from here and do a 'chak de...' by getting into coaching. Its never late to prove ur worth in life. By the way, The Archie Johnson to tendulkar's bradman..... What a nice example dude...!! Classy writing. Living up to the cricinfo level..eh!!! Post more stuff in inbox... Waiting...
Posted by: shibu at March 6, 2011 4:47 AM
kambli the great young veteran whithered very early,he came like a storm and went like a wind,his indiciplined way of life made way to exit so soon, so sad for a great cricketer....
Posted by: Live IPL Score at March 7, 2011 4:02 AM
I agree with Rahul. Kambli was a great cricketer. He definitely deserved more chances.
Posted by: Shiv yadav at March 7, 2011 12:30 PM
There was a time when kambli had overtaken the g8 tendulkar.He was dropped due to his undisiple lifestyle and rise of another g8 left hander sarauv ganguli.
Posted by: prasad at March 7, 2011 3:02 PM
i fully agree with rahul. kambli was not given a chance to fail.if his weakness against the likes of walsh and ambrose was the reason for his ouster then most of the batsmen of those times including the then captain mohd azharuddin should have been sacked as no one was more vulnerable against fast bowling than him.he should have been given a chance to play on home wickets after the walsh- ambrose onslaught.he really deserved more.
Posted by: Abinash Kumar Singh at March 8, 2011 5:04 AM
For this only Kambli has to blame himself.His lifestyle led to his downfall more than anything else.I am a great fan of Kambli but feel sorry for him as could not justified his talent.I will be please to hear a good things about Kambli these days.
Posted by: Masood at March 8, 2011 8:41 AM
I think he was very good and talented batsmenans has great potional, but he could not delever his talented due fitness problem and luck to sastain in the cricket world
Posted by: SM at March 9, 2011 3:44 AM
Let us get real here! He is the BEST example of TALENT WASTED!! We all come across [once in a while] a prodigy who screwed up big time with extra-curricular activities!! The only way I can compare Sachin and Kambli is that "Sachin respected the game that gave him livelihood" whereas "Kambli thought he is bigger than game"..see the end result now!! I bet he is flipping TC channanls wondering how the hell he screwed up his life/game...kaash, he would have been in IPL!! but reality stinks! Isn't It? Vinod Kambli!!!
Posted by: Jayesh Pawar at March 9, 2011 10:38 AM
I strongly believe that we are not going to win the world cup unless we have best bowlers in the world....
This is shame on India that we cannot produce best bowler in the world yet.!!!!!!!!!
Posted by: Chaminda at March 25, 2011 6:41 PM
Yes I too think it is talent gone wasted!
Posted by: Mihir Chitre at March 25, 2011 9:29 PM
This article was a gentle touch of the lost glory called Vinod Kambli. Very impressive indeed!
Posted by: sonoffarman at March 26, 2011 5:43 PM
I am from Pakistan. I remember watching Kamli bat on TV along time ago, but do not remember the team India was batting against. What I do remember was that Geoff Boycott was commentating and Kamli was batting an off-spinner on a dusty wicket with the spinner turning the ball miles. Anyway, Kambli was taking the off stump guard and Boycott was really criticizing him for doing that and saying it creates an lbw option for the bowler. Anyway Kamli continued to bat aggressively and an hour later Boycott agreed that it was the right approach on a turning wicket. Kamli was a genius who for whatever reason did not make it. It is sad when something like that happens to a talent.
Posted by: Ivan at March 26, 2011 7:22 PM
In the last WC held in India, Kambli was a star. The only person apart from Sachin to score a 100. And at Eden Gardens when everyone else was falling by the wayside, he kept the flame alive. He walked away in tears unbeaten but unable to take India home. He deserved better - everyone needs a second chance. Hopefully life treats him well....
Posted by: JK at March 26, 2011 10:28 PM
With all due respect to Kambli, he was never ever anywhere near Sachin's class. I remember him being bowled by Chris Pringle in NZ with a slower ball and he looked clueless against less than great bowling....I think we Indians tend to judge him on average..but that is very deceptive. He had clearly struggled after his 1st series or so....
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