"I will never leave cricket" - Hospitalized Vinod Kambli’s emotional message to fans amid health woes
Former India batter Vinod Kambli was recently hospitalized after his health condition worsened on Saturday night (December 21). He was admitted to Aakriti Hospital in Thane, where he is being treated for brain clots.
Speaking to the media for the first time since being hospitalized, Kambli hoped to continue his association with cricket. He promised to overcome this health huddle as he sang the rock band Queen's popular song, 'We Are the Champions'.
Kambli also emphasized that his childhood friend Sachin Tendulkar's blessings are always with him. During a chat with ANI, he said:
"I am feeling better now...I will never leave this (cricket) because I remember the number of centuries and double centuries I have hit...We are three left-handers in the family. I am thankful to Sachin Tendulkar as his blessings have always been with me."
Vinod Kambli has once again found himself in the spotlight for his health condition. The left-handed batter was once touted to be India's next batting star. However, it was a tale of unfulfilled potential as he failed to have a long international career.
The southpaw remains the fastest Indian player to hit 1,000 runs in Test cricket, crossing the mark in just 14 innings. He scored 1,084 runs from 17 Tests at an impressive average of 54.20. In ODIs, he featured in 104 matches and finished with 2,477 runs at an average of 32.59.
"His brain's condition is not stable" - Vinod Kambli's doctor reveals degenerative changes in the former cricket's brain
Dr. Vivek Dwivedi, a chief intensivist at Aakriti Hospital, recently gave an update about Vinod Kambli's health condition. He revealed that the former cricketer was initially admitted to the hospital due to dizziness and muscle cramps.
Dwivedi also disclosed that Kambli's brain is 'not stable' and that there have been degenerative changes. Stating that the 52-year-old is likely to be discharged in a couple of days, the doctor was quoted as saying by The Times of India:
"We admitted him on Saturday evening. He was experiencing muscle cramps and dizziness at home... He had a high-grade fever when we brought him to the hospital and difficulty walking due to muscle cramps. On investigation, we found that he had a urine infection, and sodium and potassium deficiency which were causing muscle cramps. A brain scan revealed that he had old clots because he had suffered a stroke recently.
"We admitted him to the ICU because he also had low BP... His vitals are stable but his treatment and physiotherapy are ongoing. We are planning to discharge him in 2-3 days. His brain's condition is not stable... There are degenerative changes in his brain. So, we are focussing more on rehabilitation."
It is worth mentioning that Vinod Kambli's deteriorating condition first came to light after a few videos surfaced of him struggling to walk. Several fans were concerned to see a weak Kambli at the unveiling ceremony of the Ramakant Achrekar memorial earlier this month.