Mumbai: More than a year after Vinod Kambli recovered from a urinary tract infection, he continues to battle health issues even though his condition has not worsened. However, the former India batsman is still not out of danger.“Kambli has had blood clots in his brain since being hospitalized in Thane about 18 months ago. His memory is not good. He remembers things and then forgets them. This is all due to blood clots in his brain. Kambli has given up drinking, but he sometimes smokes. According to Dr Adil Chagla (a renowned neurosurgeon) who has been monitoring Kambli’s treatment, smoking is completely forbidden for him as it puts him at risk of stroke,” his close friend and former first-class umpire Marcus Cotto told TOI on Wednesday.
“Sometimes, when he steps out of his house, he tends to ask for it and people tend to offer him cigarettes. They think they are offering cigarettes to a former Indian cricket star. However, smoking is extremely harmful to him, especially to his brain,” Cotto added.There are also some positive signs. “Ten days ago, he acted in an ad for Dinshaw Ice Cream after a long time. The ad was shot at Shivaji Park, the Mahim Junior Cricket Ground. They offered him a role that suited him. Last week, I, along with his brother Ricky and former cricketer Viram Dayal, visited Kambli at his residence at Gem Cooperative Society in Bandra,” Cotto said. “He appears to be in good health. He and his family are in good spirits. Kambli now walks with a stick. His son (Cristiano) wants to become a cricketer. I requested Jatin Paranjap to enroll him in his cricket academy and he immediately agreed. Of course, Jatin won’t charge Cambri’s son anything. “Kambli raised eyebrows during a public appearance in December 2024 when he appeared shaky alongside Sachin Tendulkar. Cricket greats such as Sunil Gavaskar and Kapil Dev later supported his recovery.Despite efforts, including a rehabilitation program backed by members of the 1983 World Cup-winning Indian team, long-term recovery remains a challenge.
