Vinod Kambli.

Vinod Kambli (pronounced [Vinod Kambli]) was a left-handed middle-order batsman for the Indian national team who was born on January 18, 1972. He played for Mumbai, India, and Boland (South Africa) during his career. Kambli became the first cricket player to score a century in an ODI match on his birthday. Additionally, he played for the Indian team that finished second in the 2000 ICC Champions Trophy.Among Indian Test cricketers, Kambli has the best batting average (54), having played his final Test match at the age of 23. Despite not playing in this format again until he was 28, ODIs were his main source of recognition after that. Kambli was a cricket analyst for a Marathi news channel during the 2019 Cricket World Cup. Kambli has made appearances as a commentator on a number of television networks over the years. In addition, he acted in a few Bollywood movies and television shows and took part in a number of reality shows. In the Kannada movie Bettanagere, Kambli had a small part. He now serves on the Mumbai Cricket Association’s Cricket Improvement Committee.

Early Life.
Vinod Kambli was born in Bhadkaambe, Sakharpa, Ratnagiri, into a Hindu-Bhandari family. He and the legendary Indian batsman Sachin Tendulkar were childhood friends. Tendulkar and Kambli enjoyed an uninterrupted 664-run partnership when they played school cricket against St. Xavier’s School in Fort. Kambli had already scored 349 runs before their coach, Ramakant Achrekar, ruled the innings over. In the first innings for St. Xavier, Kambli also claimed six wickets for 37 runs.Kambli’s Ranji Trophy career began spectacularly with a six off the first ball he faced. He made his Test and One-Day International cricket debuts in 1991 and 1992, respectively. In Test cricket, he scored four hundreds, including two double hundreds. Kambli still holds the record as the fastest Indian to reach 1,000 Test runs in 14 innings.

International Career.
In 1993, Kambli scored 224 runs in his third Test match at Wankhede Stadium against England, earning him his maiden Test century. He then scored another double century (227 runs) to overcome Zimbabwe. In the ensuing Test series against Sri Lanka, Kambli scored 125 and 120 runs. He continues to hold the record for being the first cricket player to score three consecutive Test hundreds in three different countries.In the 1991 Wills Sharjah Trophy, he faced Pakistan in his debut One-Day International. In 1992 and 1996, he participated in the World Cup. Kambli has two ODI hundreds to his name, including his unbeaten 100 against England in Jaipur on his birthday in 1993 and his 106 against Zimbabwe in Kanpur during the 1996 World Cup.
Despite his apparent skill, Kambli played his final Test match at the age of 23 and his final ODI in 2000. He officially announced his retirement from first-class cricket on September 22, 2011.

Coaching and Mentoring.
On August 15, 2009, Kambli stopped competitive cricket to focus on coaching and founded the Khel Bharti Sports Academy in Mumbai. He served as the head coach at the MCA Academy in BKC, Mumbai, from 2018 to 2022. He worked at the Tendulkar Middlesex Global Academy before that.

Personal Life.
Kambli married Noella Lewis, a receptionist at the Blue Diamond Hotel in Pune, in a Catholic ceremony at St. Patrick’s Cathedral. Following their breakup, he wed fashion model Andrea Hewitt. The couple’s kid, Jesus Cristiano Kambli, was born in June 2010. After his second marriage, Kambli converted to Christianity even though he professed his support for all religions.
Vinod Kambli: The Lost Hero is a biography of the journalist written by Kunal Purandare.

Health.
On November 29, 2013, Kambli suffered a heart attack and was sent to Lilavati Hospital in Mumbai. He had previously undergone angioplasty to clear two blocked arteries. Concerns concerning his health were raised by video of him in a dazed state in August 2024.

Politics.
After joining the Bhakti Shakti Party, Kambli was elected as its vice president. In the 2009 assembly elections, he was a candidate for the Lok Bharati Party from Vikhroli, Mumbai, however he was not successful. In 2011, he supported Anna Hazare’s India Against Corruption initiative.

Film Career.
Kambli attempted acting as well. He appeared in the Kannada movie Bettanagere (2015), the Hindi movies Annarth (2002) and Pal Pal Dil Ke Saath (2009). He also appeared on television programs such as Comedy Nights Bachao and Bigg Boss.

This comprehensive biography highlights Vinod Kambli’s many experiences as a cricket player, coach, pundit, actor, and politician.