Sharadashram vs England! When Kambli and Tendulkar made merry at the Wankhede Stadium

Vinod Kambli narrowly missed surpassing Sunil Gavaskar’s record of the then highest-ever score by an Indian batsman in Tests. © Getty Images

On February 22, 1993, Vinod Kambli completed his double century against England at his home ground in Mumbai. It was the prodigiously talented player’s first Test hundred and a lot was expected of him. Nishad Pai Vaidya revisits that innings.

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Vinod Kambli is often said to be the talent that got away. That a man who once matched Sachin Tendulkarstroke for stroke on the maidans of Mumbai couldn’t live up to his potential at the highest level is one of the biggest tragedies of Indian cricket.

On February 22, 1993, Kambli showed why he was been seen a huge hope for Indian cricket. Playing just his third Test, the Mumbai southpaw smashed 224 against England on his home ground to showcase his exceptional class and talent.

Going into the third Test and final at Bombay, India had bagged the series 2-0 with convincing victories at Calcutta and Madras — as the two cities were called then. Kambli had made his debut in the first Test at Calcutta and had recorded his maiden fifty in the second Test at Chennai.