How good was Vinod Kambli?

[CoverDrive]

My best memory of kambli is him hitting Shane Warne for 22 runs in an over in tight chase that we won. He was good but never improved and early success got in his head

[NameGoesHere]

Every few years the same question comes up- how good was Kambli anyway? Here's - more or less- the answer I always give. I followed Kambli and SRT since they were schoolboy cricketers. Let me hasten to add that by 'followed' I do not claim any special relationship or position with either to develop deeper insight. I was and remain just another fan. Both were supremely talented. Once SRT made it to the national team, all eyes turned to Kambli because everyone 'knew' he was just as talented. I remember a poignant interview (Illustrated Weekly? Sunday magazine?) where Kambli, who must have been 18/19 said something to the effect that "Tendulkar took the elevator to the top of the building, while he (Kambli) was trudging up the stairs, but he would also get there one day". What follows next is entirely my personal opinion. Kambli went precisely as far as he could. At the end of the day, he could do no better. That's because while he had the talent, he did not have the determination/ discipline/ grit to become another SRT or Lara. This lack meant he had no respect for his body, so his drinking became a problem that harmed his game. It meant that he did not have the sheer will to sort out his problems on the field either, for example with the short ball. Far less talented people like Steve Waugh, who also had a short ball problem, did so much better. That's because at the highest level of the game, talent counts for nothing if you don't have discipline or will. SRT had staggering talent, but few people see his discipline and grit, the painstaking ability to work hard. SRT's genius encompasses both his extraordinary talent and discipline. Kambli did not have the second, and his failure was inevitable. Of course, IMO, Kambli lacked a crucial ingredient through no fault of his. He came from extreme poverty and was catapulted into a heady and hedonistic lifestyle he was neither prepared for, nor had the social safeguards (education, parental guidance, etc) to combat. SRT, on the contrary, came from a solid middle/ upper middle class background. More important, SRT's parents were themselves high achievers / intellectuals who were part of a literary elite class. But be that as it may, Kambli's lack of determination and discipline is ultimately on him and no one/ nothing else. He went as far as he could; I would even say that his Test average flatters him. Another few years and he would have been averaging down in the early forties, if not less. Success at international cricket balances on a tripod- talent, luck and discipline. All three are critical. Kambli had the first in plenty, arguably enough of the second to make it to the top level, not enough of the third to stay there. The tripod was bound to crash. So, I do not mourn a wasted talent, although he did waste it. Kambli got what he deserved out of cricket, no more and no less.

[Lord]

that reminds me of someone ....:hmmm:

come to India?

[Old guy]

come to India?

:giggle:

[G_B_]

Every few years the same question comes up- how good was Kambli anyway? Here's - more or less- the answer I always give. I followed Kambli and SRT since they were schoolboy cricketers. Let me hasten to add that by 'followed' I do not claim any special relationship or position with either to develop deeper insight. I was and remain just another fan. Both were supremely talented. Once SRT made it to the national team, all eyes turned to Kambli because everyone 'knew' he was just as talented. I remember a poignant interview (Illustrated Weekly? Sunday magazine?) where Kambli, who must have been 18/19 said something to the effect that "Tendulkar took the elevator to the top of the building, while he (Kambli) was trudging up the stairs, but he would also get there one day". What follows next is entirely my personal opinion. Kambli went precisely as far as he could. At the end of the day, he could do no better. That's because while he had the talent, he did not have the determination/ discipline/ grit to become another SRT or Lara. This lack meant he had no respect for his body, so his drinking became a problem that harmed his game. It meant that he did not have the sheer will to sort out his problems on the field either, for example with the short ball. Far less talented people like Steve Waugh, who also had a short ball problem, did so much better. That's because at the highest level of the game, talent counts for nothing if you don't have discipline or will. SRT had staggering talent, but few people see his discipline and grit, the painstaking ability to work hard. SRT's genius encompasses both his extraordinary talent and discipline. Kambli did not have the second, and his failure was inevitable. Of course, IMO, Kambli lacked a crucial ingredient through no fault of his. He came from extreme poverty and was catapulted into a heady and hedonistic lifestyle he was neither prepared for, nor had the social safeguards (education, parental guidance, etc) to combat. SRT, on the contrary, came from a solid middle/ upper middle class background. More important, SRT's parents were themselves high achievers / intellectuals who were part of a literary elite class. But be that as it may, Kambli's lack of determination and discipline is ultimately on him and no one/ nothing else. He went as far as he could; I would even say that his Test average flatters him. Another few years and he would have been averaging down in the early forties, if not less. Success at international cricket balances on a tripod- talent, luck and discipline. All three are critical. Kambli had the first in plenty, arguably enough of the second to make it to the top level, not enough of the third to stay there. The tripod was bound to crash. So, I do not mourn a wasted talent, although he did waste it. Kambli got what he deserved out of cricket, no more and no less.

lower middle class more like. His father was a teacher who was reeling from debts after the death of his first wife. They are not rich thats for sure. Not that further for Kambli's family when it came to wealth. If anything Kambli probably lived in more comfortable surroundings in bhandup compared to the crammed lodgings of Sachin in Dadar. Crucially though Sachin's parents were well educated and he had his elder brother who shielded him. Kambli did not have that. In the end education does mattter. Its also wrong to say that Kambli had no support. Both sachin and Kambli received stipend from Maffatlal (a textile industry leader in the city) from the age of 13. MCA also backed Kambli a lot making him captain of their team in the ranjis so that he could relauch himself. While he did form the backbone of Mumbai side in the late 90s early 00s. He did not have that sensational form to catapult him back into contention.

[G_B_]

and to be fair its not just Kambli A lot of mumbaikars in the 90s found their careers ended because of the rise of Laxman Dravid etc. Praveen Amre, Sanjay M (though he had plenty of chances) Kambli to name a few. You look at the record of somebody like Praveen Amre , its sort of similar to kambli. 11 tests at 42.5 with a big 100 v South africa away http://www.espncricinfo.com/india/content/player/26238.html So its wrong to say it was just Kambli. Its just that the Indian middle order was extremely competitive during the time of these people.

[Straight Drive]

He was good and played for same team as that of Sachin. Both of them also had same coach (Ramakant Achrekar). They were involved in some 600 runs partnership. I watched Vinod in 1992 when England toured India for test series. He absolutely thrashed the English bowling attack.Made a 200 iirc. In ODI's he was attacking batsman but could not make it as big a name as he did in test. He came from a very poor family and got in bad habits when he got success in cricket. Vinod allegedly used to drink and come to hotel and abuse his team mates. Behavior was an issue for him which did not go well with the then team manager Ajit Wadekar. Azhar too as a captain was unhappy with his behavior off field. Got dropped from ODI squad as well. Came back in hero cup which i guess was played in Dubai. He was fielding at mid wicket and twisted ankle while fielding. I think that was the injury which cost him a place and he could never make it again. Comparisons with Sachin are fair only in few aspects. Sachin was overall a better batsman and a better team player. Like we often read that the player who is not in team would have scored a 200 or taken a 5 wicket haul, Vinod's comparison with Sachin is bit like that. There are many players who averaged high when in good form in short career only to fall when bad form struck. Quality player but in no ways i would compare him with Sachin.

[BlueBee]

You really think Kohli has anywhere near the talent of Each in ? Seriously?

I'm not comparing talent. I've never seen Kambli bat, so cant say about that. I said that he had a great start to his career, which Kohli had too. Just an example.

[rkt.india]

I'm not comparing talent. I've never seen Kambli bat, so cant say about that. I said that he had a great start to his career, which Kohli had too. Just an example.

Kohli didnt have great start to his career.

[BlueBee]

Kohli didnt have great start to his career.

In tests. Not great but good.

[Old guy]

In tests. Not great but good.

ok another test for leo...which was first test series of kohli ?

[BlueBee]

ok another test for leo...which was first test series of kohli ?

WI tour 11 :dontmentionit:

[BlueBee]

Oh wait, that wasnt a good start. :wtf:

[BlueBee]

He got better after Aus series iirc

[Lord]

WI tour 11 :dontmentionit:

do you know how he did there?great start?:cantstop:

[BlueBee]

do you know how he did there?great start?:cantstop:

He did well in his 2nd series :beee: Great start!

[Lord]

He did well in his 2nd series :beee: Great start!

no he didn't.second series was vs WI in India.where again he was poor :giggle:

[Temujin Khaghan]

his technique was very similar to gautam gambhir, he was a lot more fidgety then GG at the crease though. GG has a lot more intensity but both of them were usual suspects to fishing outside the off stump to the slips and flashing a cut straight to the point. on his good days, Kambli would keep the ball on the ground as much as possible, which the young Tendulkar wouldn't. But their coach liked the more introspective, motivated Tendulkar over the more talented and mercurial Kambli. Introspection is the highlight of Tendulkar's mindset right from teenage. He would spend hours at the nets like a martial arts practitioner, ironing out weaknesses and strengthening his best shots even further. Kambli had a major weakness with short ball. But unlike Ganguly, neither did he strengthen his other shots and evade it, nor like Raina gave his 100% and met fire with fire no matter how awkward his pull shots look. Raina is all about effectiveness, Kambli was more like an ostrich who put his head below the ground and wished his troubles would vanish. He built a massive ego for his little achievements and paid the price. Kambli also was a victim of indiscipline. Both were from lower middle class backgrounds, but Kambli got distracted very soon and Tendulkar did not. Kambli was warned several times because of late coming, drunken bouts with teammates and misbehaving with air hostesses and hotel receptionists. Kambli was unfairly pulled off from the test squad when his ODI form failed. In this aspect again, his career is similar to GG, who was pulled out of both formats, because he failed in one.

[BlueBee]

no he didn't.second series was vs WI in India.where again he was poor :giggle:

2nd away series :poink: v aus

[Lord]

2nd away series :poink: v aus

yeah 3rd series is great start