Kambli is in the rough

Vinod Kambli's so-called revelations about not being supported by his chum Sachin Tendulkar and his suggestions that he was discriminated by his own Board made for shocking reading.

Vinod Kambli's so-called revelations about not being supported by his chum Sachin Tendulkar and his suggestions that he was discriminated by his own Board made for shocking reading. Later in the evening, he denied both counts.

A talent gone waste: Vinod Kambli during the prime of his 104 ODI career

Kambli's frustrations at not becoming one of the greats in Indian cricket can be understood to a point since he had immense talent. But as much as one has to make his own luck and spare no effort to achieve the incredible, it is also a game of destiny. A man who hit back-to-back double hundreds in his third and fourth Tests of his career ended up playing only 17 Test matches averaging 54.20.

Not the first time
This is not the first time that there has been talk of a bump in relations between the two Shardashram Vidyamandir boys, who made Indian cricket special in the late 1980s and early 1990s. The first time was during 1993-94 season and one remembers calling up then Mumbai coach Karsan Ghavri for a reaction to a story on their rift. Ghavri was quick to dismiss it as mere gossip and he found nothing wrong in their relationship in the Ranji team he managed.

Over the years, Kambli may have felt neglected. Maybe, the world was not taking him seriously. Yet, the perky southpaw never spelt out his frustrations. At least it didn't show in his decision to present Tendulkar with 35 vada pavs to celebrate his 35th Test hundred or handover 34 mini bats when the Mumbai master turned 34 two years ago.

There have been nights when I have received calls from Kambli slamming those who criticised Tendulkar. He swore by Tendulkar's ability and more importantly friendship.

No leniency
There is a view that Kambli ought to have worked harder and eschewed the good life that he loved and still loves. But he was not given the kind of leniency which more tolerant selectors would give a talented player. He was dropped from the tour of England in 1996 on disciplinary grounds. Sourav Ganguly took his place and performed incredibly.

Here's where the cruel luck factor comes in. During the one-day series against Australia in 1998, Kambli came on as substitute and injured his ankle seriously.

It was good to read yesterday that the BCCI is planning to spread the net wider in terms of educating their players in matters beyond the 22-yard pitch and the forward defensive stroke or the pull through mid-wicket.

Counseling
Media handling is a critical area and with Ravi Shastri at the helm of affairs at the National Cricket Academy, you can be assured that it will be done effectively. The BCCI-backed NCA must include sessions of counseling to players who are out of form or discarded due to disciplinary problems.

There is a lesson for Indian cricket in the Vinod Kambli saga. And it reminds one what Whitney Houston once sang, "Where do broken hearts go? Can they find their way home?"