Vinod Kambli’s ‘Chak De’ dance moves at the hospital lift fans’ spirits

To end 2024, here is some good news on Vinod Kambli, the stylish southpaw and Sachin Tendulkar’s childhood friend who had been admitted to a Thane hospital with multiple ailments a few days back.

A video clip released on social media shows him dancing at the hospital — to the tune of Chak De! India from the Shah Rukh Khan hit film — with a member of the hospital staff. Naturally, the clip has gone viral.

A recent visual of Kambli, looking frail and incoherent in his speech, at a Mumbai event to honour the late Ramakant Achrekar — coach to both Tendulkar and Kambli of old — had raised fresh concerns about his health.

Once considered a batter with immense promise, Kambli made a sensational debut in Test cricket but had a short-lived career due to his brush with alcoholism and family problems.

It prompted members of India’s 1983 World Cup winning squad, namely Sunil Gavaskar and Kapil Dev, to offer to to help Kambli get back on his feet. ‘’These cricketers are like our sons or grandsons. We are with him to help him get back on his feet,’’ Gavaskar said in an interview from Australia.

A few days back, Kambli was admitted to Aakriti Hospital in Kalher, Bhiwandi, complaining of urinary infection and muscle cramps. Later, a series of medical examinations revealed clots in his brain. The doctors at Akriti Hospital had told the media that the cricketer is on the mend, while Kambli remains optimistic about his recovery.

Three days after he was admitted to the hospital, the 52-year-old was seen singing a motivational song, thanking his friends and well-wishers for their support during the tough times.

In an emotional statement to the media, Kambli said he was not yet ready to leave cricket. ‘’I will never leave cricket because I remember the number of centuries and double centuries I have hit,’’ he said.

Kambli played 17 Tests for India and scored 1,084 runs, at an average of 54-plus. He was also a regular member of the one-day team, having played 106 ODIs including the 1996 World Cup.