From Wisden to the wilderness…

Those tears were reminiscent of the ones he had shed when, during the tour of Sri Lanka, he slammed two fine centuries. In the second inning of the second Test, he was given out off a controversial decision and left the ground weeping. Tears, both, of a batsman who hates nothing more than to be deprived of an opportunity to go down fighting.

Surprising reactions from a player who, somewhere down the line, came to be associated with an irresponsible attitude and maverick behaviour that gave the selectors enough excuses to keep him out. But scratch the surface, and there are the glimpses of a past that encompasses both — tears and joy, hard work and mistakes.

A past that Vinod would definitely be going over right now as he stands at the biggest crossroads of his career, after a six-month hiatus due to injury. The wheel has come full circle for the cricketer as he goes back to where it all started — Wankhede stadium the scene of his first Test double hundred. And which is now witness to the sight of a much maturer Kambli, practising hard, even with his ankle strapped, with the Ranji probables.

The boy who grew up in a Mumbai chawl almost had a dream debut. A splendid one-day century against England and the double hundred in the Mumbai Test. The second successive double hundred put him in rarified company with Bradman and Hammond.

A schoolboy’s dream followed 793 runs in seven Tests. At an average of 113.29. An Indian average that still sustains. The seventh highest in international cricketing history till now. Kambli had more than fulfilled the promise he had shown when, alongwith Tendulkar, he had set the world record partnership of 644 for the third wicket in the Mumbai inter-schools championship. The match had seen Kambli undefeated at 329 and Sachin on 326, and a name in that Bible of cricketers, Wisden.

The first brush with notoriety had come in 1992. The World Cup match between India and Sri Lanka in Australia was held up by rain. The holiday crowd had to be kept entertained and a group of dancing showgirls took the ground. Joining them was a curly haired little Indian, too ebullient to be sitting inside the dressing room. Cameras zoomed in. And back home the traditionalists were not pleased. Too casual an attitude, they smirked.

A tag that stuck. One that overshadowed the Bradmanesque averages and the rare talent for big hitting against the likes of Ambrose, Walsh and Warne which is still talked about by awed fans. The awards, the matches won — nothing was enough to sway his detractors, of which there is a growing army. Absences from Ranji practises worsened matters, and he found himself out of the Mumbai team as well.

But from the ignominy came the biggest victory. The truest champions are those who admit to their mistakes and make steely resolves against them. Kambli accepted that he had thought long and hard about his failings and that he “…desired nothing more out of life than to get back into the Indian team and erase the blots.” Then, talking with his bat, he went on to top the domestic averages, with 890 runs from nine matches. An aggregate of 111.25.

But, apparently, not enough to get him into the national side. Further, having been classified as a one-day player, despite the proof of match figures, he has been deprived of Tests since 1995. “If there is one more thing I want after getting a national cap, it is to play a Test. That is true enjoyment, and despite popular belief, that is my forte,” says the cricketer who never considered an alternative career even during the darkest of periods.

A “popular belief” sparked by his tendency for big shots. A reason also cited for his exclusion because big shots often mean inconsistency. “What can I do? I come in at a time when quick runs are needed and singles won’t do. There are no overs left. Should I sacrifice the team’s interest to build a personal portfolio?” His dream position is at No. 3.

The mark of a true champ. And champions cannot be put down. Every time you think he is down, he rises to embarrass his detractors. The champions are known to be different — they are extraordinary players who revel when the chips are down.

Kambli has proved that he is a champion time and again. On test this time are the spectators and the selectors. This remarkable player, who started his career with Wisden, has shown that he has the maturity to correct his mistakes. Now that he stands on the brink of another World Cup, will we have the maturity to give him the chance that he so richly deserves?

For the sake of Indian cricket, it is certainly hoped so!