Sachin Tendulkar and Vinod Kambli

NEW DELHI: The friendship between Sachin Tendulkar and Vinod Kambli has long been one of cricket’s most talked-about stories. Their childhood bond, highlighted by the iconic 664-run partnership in school cricket, remains part of the game’s folklore. Now, as Kambli battles illness and continues a long road to recovery after years of health struggles, his younger brother Virendra has shed light on the enduring connection between the two former teammates.In an interview with Vickey Lalwani, Virendra revealed how Tendulkar continues to check in regularly on Kambli’s health.“Sachin dada has always supported Vinod. Their friendship is still very strong. Sachin calls and checks on him with Andrea [Hewitt, Vinod’s wife].”Tendulkar, who made his debut for Mumbai a couple of years before Kambli, was considered his closest friend during their rise in domestic cricket. While Tendulkar went on to become one of the greatest players of all time, Kambli’s career never quite reached the same heights. Yet, their bond remained unshaken.“He was closest to him. I don’t know about others, but I saw them together when I went to watch Ranji Trophy matches. I would go to the dressing room to eat, and Sachin dada, Vinod, and I would sit together and have fun. We would joke around and have a good time,” Virendra recalled.He also shared an update on his brother’s recovery following a brain clot that had required hospitalisation a few months earlier. The news was cautiously positive.“He is at home right now. He is getting stable, but his treatment is on. He is having difficulty speaking. It will take him time to recover. But he is a champion, and he will come back,” said Virendra. “He will start walking and running, hopefully. I have a lot of faith in him. I hope you can see him back on the ground.”