Vinod Kambli’s downfall, once touted as the future of Indian cricket, serves as a cautionary tale of how unchecked glamour can derail a promising career. His appearance at the Ramakant Achrekar memorial in Mumbai some time back saw Kambli trying to get the attention of his childhood friend, Sachin Tendulkar, highlighting his struggles and sparking public concern for his well-being. Following the event, Kambli, diagnosed with various health issues, received support from India’s 1983 World Cup-winning team for his rehabilitation. He was hospitalised soon after, and he has since been discharged from Thane’s Akruti Hospital. Vinod Kambli has since stayed out of the public eye and is understood to be on the path to recovery. Kambli’s impulsiveness has been well-documented amongst his contemporaries, with many former teammates from both the Indian and Mumbai teams possessing numerous anecdotes. Former India pacer Yograj Singh recently recounted a conversation where he cautioned Kambli about his lifestyle during his prime. Despite being warned about the detrimental effects of excessive partying, smoking, and romantic entanglements, Kambli remained unmoved. “I once told Vinod Kambli to stop the parties, smoking, and relationships with women. I warned him that continuing this way would lead to his downfall. I spoke to him personally, but he responded, ‘This is glamour. I am the king.’ That is why I say, no one is bigger than the game,” Yograj was quoted as saying by InsideSport. Vinod Kambli’s Record Vinod Kambli made his Test debut against England in 1993, scoring his first half-century in the second match at Chennai. What followed was extraordinary. In the next two Tests, Kambli dominated the English bowlers, scoring 224 at the Wankhede Stadium and then a further double-century, 227, at Delhi’s Arun Jaitley Stadium (formerly Feroz Shah Kotla). Kambli’s exceptional form continued with consecutive centuries against Sri Lanka in Colombo, at one point even surpassing Sir Donald Bradman’s average of 99.94. Kambli’s average had exceeded 100 with his remarkable batting. While he added a few more half-centuries to his Test record, his achievements plateaued.