Budding young cricketer Vinod Kambli, an erstwhile India sportsman famous for his virtuoso performance on the cricket pitch and intrinsic relationship with Sachin Tendulkar, is currently undergoing extreme medical and financial hardships.
Vinod Kambli, who played for India in 104 ODIs and 17 Tests, made headlines recently after there were reports of his poor health and financial situation. Doctors admitted him to Akruti Hospital in Thane on December 21, 2024, after he was diagnosed with a urinary infection and muscle cramps.
Gavaskar Lends Financial Lifeline to Vinod Kambli
In the face of increasing worry over his health, cricketing great and commentator Sunil Gavaskar has come forward to offer support. While inaugurating Ramakant Achrekar’s memorial at Shivaji Park, Mumbai, in December 2024, Gavaskar had promised to assist Kambli—and he has now kept his word.
As per a Times of India report (cited by Times Now), Gavaskar’s CHAMPS Foundation will pay Kambli a monthly amount of ₹30,000, along with yearly medical assistance of ₹30,000.
The two cricketers recently met up at Wankhede Stadium during the venue’s 50th anniversary ceremony in January, reaffirming Gavaskar’s willingness to assist his fellow sportsman at this time of need.
Personal Life Struggles Surface
Adding to his troubles, Kambli has also been battling emotional challenges at home. In a candid revelation during a podcast with journalist Suryanshi Pandey, Kambli’s wife, Andrea Hewitt, shared that she had filed for divorce in 2023. However, she later withdrew it after witnessing her husband’s fragile state.
“He will be helpless if I leave him. He is like a child, and that hurts me. It makes me feel worried. I would not even leave a friend, but he is more than that,” Andrea replied.
She further added, “I remember there were moments when I would just walk away. But then I would be worried: Has he eaten or not? Is he on the bed properly? Is he okay? Then I had to check on him, and I would understand that he needed me.”
As Kambli still struggles with his ailments, Gavaskar’s timely assistance has provided some relief to the former cricketer and his family.
