‘It doesn't feel like I am not at home’: Emotional video of Vinod Kambli from Thane care facility goes viral

Mumbai: A video of former Indian cricketer Vinod Kambli speaking from an elderly care centre in Thane surfaced on social media on Friday, 25 September 2026, drawing widespread emotional reactions from cricket fans. The 54-year-old former middle-order batter expressed deep gratitude for the care he is receiving at the Nidan Centre for Elderly Care. In the short clip, Kambli praised the facility's hygiene and support staff, stating: "I am Vinod Kambli. I have received a lot of love. And as for all the people who are here, it doesn't feel anywhere here like I am not at home". He further described the facilities as "first-class", reassuring well-wishers about his present living environment.

Fan Concern Amid Health Complications

Despite Kambli’s reassuring words, the video sparked fresh concern among cricket enthusiasts as he appeared to stumble and struggle while speaking. The clip showed the former athlete's ongoing health battles, which have visibly impacted his speech and mobility in recent years. Kambli was previously hospitalised in December 2024 due to a severe urinary tract infection, low blood pressure, and electrolyte imbalances, alongside brain blood clots linked to a prior stroke. Following two weeks of intensive medical care, he was discharged in January 2025. A close circle of former cricketers and friends, led by former umpire Marcus Couto, continues to provide financial and personal support for his ongoing well-being.

Legacy of a Brilliant Cricketing Career

Kambli represented India in 17 Test matches and 104 One-Day Internationals between 1993 and 2000, accumulating 1,084 Test runs at an impressive average of 54.20 and 2,477 ODI runs. He made history in 1993 by becoming the first Indian to score back-to-back Test double centuries, 224 against England at Wankhede Stadium and 227 against Zimbabwe in Delhi. Kambli first shot to national fame alongside childhood friend Sachin Tendulkar when they shared a legendary 664-run partnership in school cricket in 1988. Following the release of the video, cricket fans across the globe have flooded social media with messages wishing the former star health and peace.