In 1991, when ex-India opening batsman Vinod Kambli made his debut on the global stage, he became one of the most discussed figures in cricket. Nevertheless, due to his inability to sustain his performance, Kambli faded from prominence, largely because of his own actions. Acknowledging his struggles with alcoholism, he also gained notoriety for staying out late at parties. It turns out that Yograj Singh, who happens to be the father of past Indian all-rounder Yuvraj Singh, once cautioned Kambli about focusing more intently on his career path; however, the latter chose to disregard this counsel.
“I once told Vinod Kambli, ‘Stop these parties, smoking cigarettes, and visiting women – otherwise you’ll ruin yourself and end up regretting it. Look at his situation now,” Yograj shared with InsideSport. “He responded to me saying, ‘Sir, apka time chala gaya’ [which means your time has passed]. He always believed he was the king, but nobody is greater than the game itself.”
Kambli's poor health and serious money troubles have brought him back into public view as key issues. At age 52, he has been struggling with several ailments. On December 21, 2024, he had to be admitted to Akruti Hospital in Thane because of muscle spasms and a urinary tract infection. Besides deteriorating health, Kambli faces significant financial challenges.
Andrea Hewitt, Kambli's spouse, revealed at the beginning of this year that she had initially filed for divorce in 2023 but decided against it after seeing her husband in a 'helpless condition.'
During an interview with Suryanshi Pandey, Andrea revealed that she had thought about parting ways with Kambli previously but was consistently worried about his welfare.
"If I abandon him, he will be vulnerable. He acts like a child, which tugs at my heartstrings. This situation fills me with anxiety. Even though I wouldn’t leave a close friend, this person means much more to me. There have been instances where I simply walked off, yet later found myself concerned about whether he has eaten, if he’s settled comfortably in his bed, or if everything is alright with him. Eventually, I always ended up checking on him and realized how dependent he was on me,” she shared.