VADODARA: In a huge respite to Vinod Kambli’s fans, his old, cricketing friend, former first-class umpire Marcus Couto has assured that the former India cricket star, who was admitted to a hospital in Thane in Mumbai on Saturday due to a deterioration in his health is "fine" now, and "recovering well."
"Vinod is doing fine now. He is recovering well. He is being treated for Urinary tract infection, ‘Hypokalemia’ (a condition which occurs when the amount of potassium in the blood is lower than normal), and complications arising from an old heart stroke (in 2013). I was with his brother ‘Viru’ Kambli last night at the hospital, and as usual, we were talking about his old cricketing memories," Couto told TOI from Mumbai.
ALSO WATCH
Interestingly, in a magnanimous gesture, Dr Shailesh Thakur, a die-hard fan of Kambli, the Akruti Health City Hospital in Thane where the 52-year-old has been admitted has decided to foot his treatment bills. The hospital even sent an ambulance to his Bandra residence to bring him to its Kalher facility. Thakur is the director at the hospital.
Couto isn't in favour of Kambli being discharged from the hospital soon. "I told them to treat him at the hospital for a month as he has multiple health complications. Since someone is ready to spend money on his treatment, why not? I wish him a speedy recovery," Couto added.
Couto's sole concern for his friend is the continuous flow of the local fans visiting the hospital to meet the ailing ex-India cricket star, which puts him danger of catching an infection. "I had a long conversation with his doctor, Arfat Shaikh, about Vinod's treatment and ended it with a request to stop the non-stop flow of local villagers from visiting him in the ICU of the hospital due to the risk of infection for him as they are clicking pictures, making videos, and indulging in handshakes with him," Couto said.
Couto, along with his brother Ricky went to meet Kambli at the former India batter's Jewel Cooperative Society in Bandra after his video of not being able to walk properly surfaced in August this year.
Kambli, who played 17 Tests and 104 ODIs for India between 1993-2000, had made a rare public appearance recently when he attended the inauguration of legendary coach Ramakant Achrekar’s memorial at the Shivaji Park in Mumbai.
The former India cricketer, who has been struggling with health-related issues for quite some time, appeared frail and incoherent in his speech in the function which was also attended by his long-time friend Sachin Tendulkar.
