I need work, I have a family to look after: Former India cricketer Vinod Kambli

Less than 30 years ago Vinod Kambli was a statisticianrsquos delight 793 runs Thatrsquos the number of Test runs he scored in his first seven Tests 11329 That was his Test batting average for 1993 224 and 227 His top scores for that year Today his financial condition is such that hersquod be willing to do anything connected with cricket to earn these figures in cashHad we not been expecting Kambli 50 wersquod find it difficult to recognise him with a grey beard and hat as he slowwalked his way to the table at the MCABKC coffee shop on a wet Tuesday afternoon The weightloss may not mean he is super fit although he stresses later that to coach a team one has to be fit and hence lost weightWe are used to seeing Kambli with a gold chain a bracelet and a grand watch There was nothing of that sort and his cell phone screen is damaged on one side He did not drive a car to the club his wellwisher Nadim Memon picked him up from his Bandra West residence Kambli also ensured he didnrsquot waste his halfsmoked cigaretteOutside the coffee shop Kambli tells us that he needs work and that his only source of income is ldquoBCCIrsquos Rs 30000 pensionrdquoHe last coached a team in the 2019 T20 Mumbai League and guided young cricketers at the Tendulkar Middlesex Global Academy in Nerul The first postCovid edition of the T20 league has yet to materialise And where coaching work at the academy is concerned Kambli said he found Nerul too far to travel tomdashldquoI used to wake up at 5am take a cab to DY Patil Stadium It was very hectic I would then coach at the BKC ground in the eveningrdquoAlso Read All grace class and soft handsThankful to BCCIWe ask him to elaborate on his financial difficulties ldquoI am a retired cricketer who is completely dependent on the pension from the BCCI My only payment source of income at the moment is from the Board for which I am really thankful and grateful It takes care of my familyrdquo he saysldquoI need assignments where I can work with youngsters I know Mumbai have retained Amol Muzumdar as their head coach but if anywhere I am needed I am there We have played together and we were a great team Thatrsquos what I want them current Mumbai team to doto play as a teamldquoI was seeking help from the MCA Mumbai Cricket Association I came into the CIC Cricket Improvement Committee but it was an honorary job I went to the MCA for some help I have a family to look after I told the MCA many times that if you require me I am there whether it is at the Wankhede Stadium or at BKC Mumbai cricket has given me a lot I owe my life to this gamerdquoAlso Read Rahul Dravid then and nowlsquoNot an addictrsquoThe rain takes a break but itrsquos still dark Listening to Kamblirsquos woes starts to get depressing ldquoAfter retirement there is no cricket for you But if you want to stay steady in life it is important to have assignments I am looking for that from the MCA All I can do is request the MCA president Dr Vijay Patil or the secretary Sanjay Naik for an assignmentrdquo he saysWhile Kamblirsquos situation is sad there is this inescapable notion of him liking the good life Mention alcohol and he insists hersquos not an addict only a social drinker ldquoWho doesnrsquot do itrdquo he asks He goes on to reveal that he once had 10 pegs of hard liquor one night in the midst of a Ranji Trophy game and got a hundred the next day ldquoOur coach Balvinder Singh Sandhu was worried whether I would wake up on time I did and scored a hundredrdquo he revealsFor those who fear that Kamblirsquos love for the good times will come in the way of his future coaching work he has a message ldquoThere are rules and regulations which everyone has to follow If there are any rules that donrsquot allow you to do certain things everyone must follow them I will stop it drinking immediately if told to do sono problem at allrdquoHow can we speak to Kambli and not bring up his childhood friend Sachin Tendulkar We do and Kambli remarks ldquoHe Sachin knows everything but I am not expecting anything from him He gave me the TMGA Tendulkar Middlesex Global Academy assignmentI was very happy He has been a very good friend He has always been there for me places his hand on the academy logordquoSo why are assignments not coming to you we ask ldquoThe assignments are there but I donrsquot intend grabbing someone elsersquos work Whatever has to come to me should comerdquo he stresses The other day we heard that Kambli had to borrow some cash from a friend to get back home from the MCABKC club to his residence He doesnrsquot deny it ldquoYes it hurts I was not born rich I came up in life only by playing cricket I have got everything through this game I have seen poverty while growing up Khana nahi hota tha kabhikabhi there would not be food on some days I would go to the Shardashram school where I would eat food when the team met Thatrsquos where Sachin stood up as a friend I came from a very poor family I miss my father and motherrdquo he says choking with emotionAbout that viral videoOnly recently a video clip went viral of a person who was believed to be Kambli lurching on a street in an allegedly drunken state To that he responds ldquoIf there are false things being spread about me I will not allow that to happen My wife Andrea is very strict If I am going to a function and she tells me not to drink I follow it I am scared of her laughs She has given me two kidsmdasha boy 12 and a girl 7 and both are lefthanders What else you wantrdquoThere is something that he wants though Itrsquos brought up often in our interaction Work And from his fans who read this interview ldquoPray for me and please give me your loverdquo2000The year in which Vinod Kambli last played for India