Former Indian cricketer Vinod Kambli, once hailed as one of the most promising batters in the country and childhood friend of Sachin Tendulkar, is currently battling severe health issues and financial instability. The 52-year-old ex-India star, who played 104 ODIs and 17 Test matches, came into the public spotlight again in December 2024 after being hospitalized in Thane for urinary infections and severe cramps. Kambli was admitted to Akruti Hospital on December 21, 2024. His medical condition exposed the grim reality of his financial challenges, with reports confirming that the former cricketer was struggling to meet both health and day-to-day expenses. As the news circulated, an emotional outpouring from the cricketing community followed—and one name stood out among the rest.

Legendary Indian cricketer Sunil Gavaskar has stepped forward in Kambli’s time of need. Gavaskar, who had earlier pledged his support during the inauguration of coach Ramakant Achrekar’s memorial at Shivaji Park in Mumbai, has fulfilled his promise through his charitable organization, the CHAMPS Foundation. According to a Times of India report cited by Times Now, CHAMPS Foundation will be providing monthly financial assistance of Rs 30,000 to Kambli. In addition, annual medical aid worth Rs 30,000 will be offered, making a significant difference in helping him manage ongoing treatment and living costs.

Kambli and Gavaskar were also recently seen together during the 50th-anniversary celebration of the Wankhede Stadium in January 2025, where the gesture further symbolized cricketing fraternity and compassion beyond the field. This timely support couldn’t have come at a more critical moment. Earlier this year, Andrea Hewitt, Kambli’s wife, opened up in a heartfelt interview on a podcast hosted by journalist Suryanshi Pandey, revealing the extent of Kambli’s personal struggles. She admitted that she had filed for divorce in 2023, only to withdraw the petition after seeing her husband's deteriorating condition and emotional vulnerability.

Andrea expressed that while their relationship had faced severe strain, her conscience and compassion kept pulling her back. "He will be helpless if I leave him. He is like a child, and that hurts me. It makes me feel worried. I would not even leave a friend, but he is more than that," she shared emotionally during the podcast. She recalled moments when she would walk away from the situation but found herself worrying whether he had eaten or was even okay physically. "Then I had to check on him, and I would understand that he needed me." Vinod Kambli’s story is one of incredible highs and painful lows. Once a cricketing prodigy who shared record-breaking partnerships with Sachin Tendulkar in their school days and began his international career with back-to-back double centuries, Kambli’s fall from grace has been both heartbreaking and cautionary. Post-retirement, he faced multiple setbacks, including health concerns, employment difficulties, and legal issues.

However, Gavaskar’s support and Andrea’s compassion offer a glimmer of hope, illustrating the power of community, empathy, and enduring human bonds. The cricketing legend’s intervention through CHAMPS Foundation is not just financial—it’s a statement of solidarity and a reminder that those who once wore the national colors should not be forgotten. As Kambli continues to recover and cope with the challenges ahead, fans and well-wishers across the country are hopeful that this support system will offer him both dignity and stability in his life off the pitch. The story also reignites the conversation around establishing stronger welfare mechanisms for retired sportspersons who may find themselves without financial safety nets after their playing days are over.