The Hindu : Kambli bubbling with confidence

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, Sep 17, 2003

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Sport - Cricket

Kambli bubbling with confidence

By S. Dinakar

A fresh season for Vinod Kambli who is in Chennai to play the Irani Trophy. — Photo: N. Balaji

CHENNAI Sept. 16. This is a fresh season, and Vinod Kambli sports a new hairdo. "You know, they call it the Afro," he says.

He doesn't stop there. "It's a different Vinod Kambli now. Absolutely. It is Mission Comeback for me...I'm not a loser," declares the man known for his flamboyance.

He goes on — "I cannot leave this game. Cricket is my life. It is my passion. I have raised my game. I am a learner. Every day you pick up new things."

There is never a dull moment when Kambli is around. A vibrant personality, the 31-year-old man from Mumbai is confident, even brash, with his words.

Kambli's cheerful demeanour masks the pain and anguish of his cricketing journey.

A healthy average of 54.20 (1084 runs) in 17 Tests and 32.59 (2477 runs) in 104 ODIs, double hundreds in successive Tests... oodles of talent. But then, it is a career that has gone wrong.

His attitude came under scrutiny after a bright beginning in Tests, fast bowlers targeted him with short-pitched stuff, and the injuries, including a broken ankle, surfaced at inopportune moments.

"Whatever has happened, I have just kept them aside. I have never looked back. I am always looking forward. I have little goals, and I will concentrate on that. I have learnt from my mistakes," the dashing middle-order batsman told The Hindu at the M.A. Chidambaram Stadium on Tuesday.

The Irani Trophy match from September 18, where Mumbai will be taking on a powerful Rest of India side, is just the kind of platform Kambli seeks. "This is a big match, I am charged. If I get an opportunity, I will grab it," he says.

And his friend and inspiration, Sachin Tendulkar will be leading the Ranji champion.

Kambli's eyes light up. "Sachin has always been my philosopher and guide. He has always been there for me. He is a big motivator. Talking to him is how I motivate myself. Even in the nets, if he is not satisfied, he interrupts me. Vinod `do this, do that.'"

It was a deliberate decision when Kambli skipped the last domestic season and opted to play for Boland in South African first class cricket. " I wanted to learn, improve, and evolve as a batsman. I had never played on those kinds of wickets. The pitches were bouncy. I got an 80 against a good Western Province attack. Initially when I went there I struggled. After that I adapted to the bounce in the pitch. I am going to utilise the experience that I have gained. I feel I am a much better player now."

Both in South Africa and with the Mumbai team, he has worked extremely hard on his fitness. "I am just weighing 69 kg at the moment. I feel good. I am ready."

An aggressive southpaw, he says he is learning to bat according to situations, "I am a natural strokeplayer. But the way I bat depends on the situation and the number at I batting." A brief stint in films notwithstanding, cricket remains his first love.

He is delighted to be back with his State mates. "The Mumbai team has always been a big help for me. It's like a family. We keep encouraging each other. We have a very good leader (Tendulkar). We have a coach (Chandrakant Pandit) who has played cricket and is friendly to everybody. We will enjoy this game."

Pandit saw a definite change in Kambli's attitude. "He put in a lot of effort during the training sessions. He helped out the junior cricketers. He's more focussed and responsible."

If Pandit's words are true, Kambli is well on his way to shedding the `bad boy' image. And he's itching to duel it out with some of his old mates, now in the Rest of India camp.

"Definitely. I'm waiting for it," says the `new' Vinod Kambli.

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