Vinod Kambli - Another on the comeback trail

So many seem to be on the comeback trail these days. The most talked about cricketer in this category is of course Md Azharuddin. And then there are Nayan Mongia and Ajay Jadeja. But wait. There is another player who is very keen on returning to the Indian team. He has remained in the background, as compared to the other three but that's because he he has been out of the Test scene for a much longer period. However he has let his bat do the talking, has notched up a mountain of runs around the domestic circuit, is walking and talking with a great deal more confidence and is looking forward to making his presence felt on the international stage once again.

Vinod Ganpat Kambli had the kind of start to his Test career that budding cricketers can only see in their wildest dreams. A half century in his second Test was followed by a double century in the third and this was followed by another double century in his next Test innings. This lifted him among the elite group of Don Bradman and Walter Hammond as the only scorers of two double centuries in successive innings. He was hailed as a shining new star and along with his old school chum Sachin Tendulkar promised to take Indian batting to new heights.

Unfortunately this did not materialise. For even as Tendulkar went from strength to strength, Kambli faltered on the doorsteps of superstardom. The well worn cliche `from obscurity to fame' went in reverse for the Mumbai left hander. He stayed in the forefront for some time with two centuries in Sri Lanka in 1993 but following that there was a steep decline in his form, fortunes and, consequently, confidence. Suddenly he seemed to have technical limitations against the fast, short rising deliveries and this was ruthlessly exposed by Courtney Walsh and company on the West Indies tour of India in 1994-95. A few injuries added to his woes. He last played in a Test against New Zealand in 1995-96 and even though he has been recalled for one day games, it is obvious that a tried and tested pro like Kambli would love to exhibit his class in the tougher arena of Test cricket.

Sometime in the mid 90s, when he had lost his place in the Indian side, Kambli made a famous quote when he said Tendulkar had taken the elevator while he had taken the stairs. This was an honest appraisal from a young man alleged to be casual and indisciplined in his approach. He was portrayed as a fun loving youth, not serious about his career and much was made of his razzmatazz life style, colourful clothes and earrings. Truth to tell, Kambli was dead serious about his career; it was only that his confidence had taken a bit of a whacking. And the public image of him as a `softie' who lacked a tough, professional approach gained momentum when he unashamedly shed tears before a worldwide audience after the ill fated World Cup semifinal against Sri Lanka at the Eden Gardens in 1996.

All that has changed now. It is a new Kambli that one has seen so far this season. He is batting with a lot more fluency and this is borne from the fact that he has got five hundreds in the Ranji Trophy, Duleep Trophy and Deodhar Trophy tournaments. As a start to his comeback bid, he was included in the India Seniors team for the Challenger Trophy. He did well enough to merit inclusion in the Board President's XI but was overlooked. But one is sure Kambli will take this disappointment in his stride.

It must not be forgotten that Kambli, despite his failures, still averages 54 in his Test career with four hundreds and three fifties. In ODI's he has over 2000 runs at an average of almost 34 with two centuries. At 28, he is fit and confident and his class has never been questioned. Being a left hander is a built in advantage for Kambli who could be the answer to the middle order batting problems.