Childhood friend Sachin Tendulkar unrecognizable to Vinod Kambli, video goes viral - Watch now

New Delhi: On Tuesday, December 3, iconic Indian cricketer Sachin Tendulkar and his childhood friend Vinod Kambli came together once again at the unveiling of a memorial for their beloved cricket coach, Ramakant Achrekar, in Mumbai. It was a touching reunion for the duo, who had both honed their skills under the guidance of Achrekar, whose influence had a profound impact on their respective cricketing journeys.

#WATCH | Maharashtra: Former Indian Cricketer Sachin Tendulkar met former cricketer Vinod Kambli during an event in Mumbai.

(Source: Shivaji Park Gymkhana/ANI) pic.twitter.com/JiyBk5HMTB

— ANI (@ANI) December 3, 2024

Sad to see Kambli like this… Supremely talented but his ego and atttitude got the better of him.

— Amma Pakoda (@ammapakoda) December 3, 2024

That man also didn’t behave well with Sachin. As if Kambli doesn’t need Sachin help.

— cricbuzzer (@niravrupu) December 3, 2024

In the viral clip, Sachin Tendulkar is seen approaching Vinod Kambli and having a brief conversation. However, the meeting took an awkward turn when it ended abruptly. While the audio was unclear, it seemed that Kambli wanted to sit with Tendulkar before someone asked the cricket legend to leave. Fans expressed concern over Kambli’s health after the interaction.

Kambli and Tendulkar became national sensations at the ages of 14 and 15, respectively, when they forged a remarkable 664-run partnership for their school, Shardashram Vidyamandir, against St. Xavier’s in a Harris Shield match. Both remained unbeaten, with Kambli scoring 349 and Tendulkar 326.

Tendulkar made his India debut less than two years later, in 1989 against Pakistan, and went on to become one of the greatest players in the history of the sport. Over his illustrious career, he played 200 Tests and 463 ODIs, setting records for the most runs in both formats. He remains the only player in cricket history to score 100 international centuries.

Kambli made his India ODI debut in 1991 and later played Test cricket in 1993. He featured in 17 Tests, amassing 1,084 runs, including four centuries (two of them double tons), at an impressive average of 54.20. In 104 ODIs, he scored 2,477 runs at an average of 32.29, with two centuries to his name.

Kambli’s last Test match for India was in 1995, and his final appearance for the national team came in an ODI in 2000.