Name Hindi: विनोद कांबली / Gender Man
Vinod Kambli
Born on January 18, 1972 in Mumbai, India, Vinod Ganpat Kambli is a retired international cricketer who played for the Indian National team. His cricketing career, though relatively short-lived, was marked by several noteworthy achievements and remarkable performances.
Early Career
Kambli’s love for cricket emerged at an early age. He used to play under coach Ramakant Achrekar with his childhood friend and future international teammate Sachin Tendulkar. One of the most memorable moments from this period was their unbroken partnership of 664 runs during a school match, which stood as a world record for any form of cricket until 2006.
International Cricket Career
Kambli made his debut in international cricket in October 1991 against Pakistan. Considered one of the most promising batsmen of his generation, Kambli caught the attention of the entire cricketing fraternity because of his exceptional batting skills and aggression on the pitch. In Test matches, he holds the record for being the quickest Indian to score 1000 runs – completing this feat in just fourteen innings.
- Test Record: Out of the seventeen test matches that he played for India, Vinod Kambli scored a total of 1084 runs with an average of over 54 per match.
- One Day Internationals (ODIs): Kambli appeared in 104 ODIs wherein he amassed a total of 2477 runs at an average just shy of 32. The southpaw notched up two centuries and fourteen half-centuries during his ODI career.
End of International Career
Kambli’s international career came to an abrupt end in 2000, with his last appearance for India being a One Day International against Sri Lanka. Known for having a defensive technique susceptible to fast bowling, Kambli’s performance faded and he was often dropped from the squad.
Post Cricket Career
After retiring from cricket, Kambli ventured into other fields like commentary, coaching, reality TV shows and even acting in soap operas & movies. He has remained connected with cricket through coaching stints at Mumbai Cricket Association (MCA) and has trained young talents at various academies.
Legacy
Vinod Kambli will always be remembered as one of the most talented batsmen who could have achieved much more had his form not dipped drastically. Despite his short-lived career, Kambli has made significant contributions to Indian cricket and continues to remain engaged with the sport far beyond his playing days.
