Indian cricketer Rinku Singh suffered a personal loss on Friday as his father, Khanchand Singh, passed away after battling stage-four cancer. He had been undergoing treatment at Yatharth Hospital in Greater Noida, where his condition worsened earlier this week.
The tragedy came just a day after Rinku returned to join the Indian squad for the ongoing ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2026. The batter had travelled home earlier to visit his ailing father, who had been placed on ventilator support as his health deteriorated.
Despite the emotional situation, Rinku returned to the team before India’s Super 8 match against Zimbabwe. However, he did not feature in the playing XI for the game, with Sanju Samson taking his place in the lineup. Rinku still contributed to the team effort by taking the field as a substitute fielder during the match.
Tributes and condolences poured in from across the cricketing world after the news of Khanchand Singh’s death emerged. Former India spinner Harbhajan Singh expressed his grief and support for the young batter and his family. In a message posted on social media, he said he was deeply saddened to hear about the loss and offered prayers for strength and courage for the bereaved family.
The veteran cricketer also acknowledged Rinku’s commitment to national duty, noting how difficult it must be for him to balance personal grief while staying with the team during a major international tournament. He prayed for eternal peace for the departed soul and support for the family during this painful time.
Rinku’s T20 World Cup campaign so far has been challenging. The middle-order batter has scored just 24 runs in five innings in the tournament. Despite arriving in the competition with good form, he has not had enough opportunities to play long innings, which eventually led to Samson replacing him in the playing XI for the Zimbabwe clash.
Meanwhile, the Indian team has kept its semifinal hopes alive after defeating Zimbabwe convincingly in the Super 8 stage. The team will now travel to Kolkata for its final Super 8 match against the West Indies.
That contest is expected to be a virtual quarterfinal, as the winner will secure a place in the tournament’s semifinals. With the stakes high and the competition nearing its final stages, India will be aiming to maintain its momentum while the team also stands in solidarity with Rinku during a deeply emotional time.
