I am Not Vinod Kambli, Says Sachin Tendulkar

A file photo of Sachin and Kambli during their school days.

Sachin Tendulkar, in a rare comment about his childhood friend Vinod Kambli, has said that both of them were different individuals with distinct lifestyles.

While Tendulkar went on to create a bunch of records in the game, Kambli could not realise his potential, ending up with 17 Test caps after a great start to his international career that saw him smash back-to-back double hundreds against England and Zimbabwe back in 1993.

"I wouldn't want to talk about talent, because that's not for me to judge," Tendulkar told a leading English daily when asked about Kambli. (Wanted to Boycott Australia Tour After Monkeygate: Tendulkar)

Talking more about his Mumbai mate, Tendulkar said: "But if we have to talk about differences, then I would say that his lifestyle was different. We were both individuals with different natures, and we responded differently to various situations. In my case, my family was always there to keep an eye and keep me grounded at all times. I can't speak for Vinod." (Felt Humiliated After Being Sacked as Captain: Tendulkar)

The duo had famously put up a 664-run world record stand at school level. Besides scoring 184 runs at an impressive average of 54.20 in Tests, Kambli made 2477 runs at 32.59 in 104 ODIs. (Multan Declaration Hurt Tendulkar)

Kambli made as many as nine comebacks into the ODI team, which he was part of last in 2000. He played his last Test in 1995 when he was just 23.