Vinod Kambli was once a cricketer who captured the hearts of millions of Indians. Despite his immense talent, comparable to that of Sachin Tendulkar, his career was overshadowed by a lack of discipline, which ultimately led to a tragic downfall. Kambli, who once shared a 664-run partnership with Sachin in the Harris Shield at just 16 years old, is now listed among the cricketers who didn't quite fulfil their potential. 

The fame cricket brought him seemed to go to his head and Kambli became a slave to alcohol. His love for the bottle even led to a notorious incident where he was arrested for driving under the influence. Unfortunately, this uncontrolled lifestyle eventually led to the end of his career in 2011.

Just as his professional career suffered, Kambli’s personal life was filled with turmoil. His first wife was Noyall Lewis, a receptionist at Hotel Blue Diamond in Pune. After a brief courtship, they married in 1998 when Kambli was 26. However, the marriage did not last. Kambli’s uncontrollable drinking habits became a villain in their relationship, with reports even suggesting that Kambli had affairs with other women, which eventually led to their divorce.

 

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Kambli with Noyall Lewis on wedding day

At the start of the 2000s, Kambli found love again. This time, it was with fashion model Andrea Hewitt, who won his heart. After six years of relationship, they got married in 2006 in a civil ceremony. Four years later, they were blessed with a son, named Jesus. In 2014, the couple adopted a daughter, Johanna. 

During this time, Andrea chose to leave her career behind to focus on their family. In a symbolic gesture of love and commitment, Kambli converted to Christianity for Andrea. The couple got married again in a Christian ceremony at the St Peter’s Church in Bandra in 2014, when their son was just four years old. A picture of Kambli kissing his son after the wedding quickly became a talking point among their fans, and the media covered it widely.

But after 17 years of marriage, troubles once again surfaced in Kambli’s personal life. In February 2023, Andrea filed a police complaint against him, citing domestic abuse. According to her complaint, an argument between the two escalated, with Kambli throwing a cooking pan in her direction.

What happened after that remains unclear. Reports suggest that Andrea left Kambli’s home with their children. However, just a few days ago, Kambli gave an emotional interview to a YouTube channel, where he spoke about his family. He mentioned that for the past year, he had been suffering from an illness and that it was Andrea who took care of him when he was hospitalised due to kidney issues. He shared how his wife was his pillar of strength when he suffered two heart attacks in 2013. Kambli also expressed his desire to make his son a cricketer, adding that as long as his family stood by him, he was not afraid of anything.

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The life of Vinod Kambli has been a poignant tale of incredible promise, a rise to fame, followed by personal struggles and regrets. Yet, his journey also highlights the importance of family and the power of second chances, even in the face of hardship.