Legendary India cricketer Sachin Tendulkar reunited with childhood friend Vinod Kambli at a memorial unveiling for their mentor, the iconic coach Ramakant Achrekar, in Mumbai on December 3. The ceremony paid homage to Achrekar’s most significant impact on Indian cricket and his star students have contributed to the tributes.
Tendulkar and Kambli were inseparable in their early cricketing days and famously stayed together while playing a historic 664-run partnership in a school match. With the supervision of Achrekar, they both realized the dream of playing for India. Meeting on this event day was very sentimental, as an online viral video clip posted on the web displayed Tendulkar with a warm welcome for Kambli.
The congregation featured leading cricketing figures, Achrekar’s former pupils including Paras Mambhrey, Pravin Amre, Balwinder Singh Sandhu and Sanjay Bangar, and Samir Dighe who came to pay tribute to their coach contributions to cricketing history. Kambli’s presence at the event touched many, as he has faced challenges in recent years.
Vinod Kambli meets Sachin Tendulkar after ages, questions raised on his poor lifestyle
Questions about his health arose following a video of him appearing to be unable to walk. For example, he has also talked about financial difficulties, solely surviving on the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) pension. While Tendulkar’s cricket career soared to unparalleled heights, cementing him as one of the greatest players ever, Kambli’s journey followed a different trajectory.
However, [Kambli] came in with high expectations, having notched two double hundred early in his life, including the record of scoring consecutive 200s as the first Indian cricketer. However, inconsistency saw him play only 17 Tests, amassing 1,084 runs at an impressive average of 54.20. In ODIs, Kambli has been represented by 104 outings, comprising 2,477 runs in an average of 32.59 and two centuries.
Although a promising start, he went out of sight of the international stage, playing his last game in 2000 and retiring in 2009. The emotional reunion served as a poignant reminder of the bonds formed under Achrekar’s mentorship and the contrasting paths of two cricketing talents shaped by his wisdom.
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