The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) secretary Devajit Saikia has confirmed that Rinku Singh will rejoin the Indian team in Kolkata on Saturday ahead of their crucial Super 8 clash against West Indies national cricket team in the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026.
“Rinku Singh will join the team tomorrow in Kolkata,” Saikia told IANS.
Father Passes Away After Battle With Illness
Rinku had returned home following the demise of his father, Khanchand, who passed away in the early hours of Friday after battling liver cancer. He had been admitted to Yatharth Hospital in Greater Noida on February 21 and was placed on ventilator support before his condition worsened.
The left-hander left Chennai at 5:00 am to reach New Delhi and attend the last rites.
Earlier in the week, Rinku had briefly rejoined the squad ahead of India’s match against Zimbabwe at the MA Chidambaram Stadium, but did not feature in the playing XI, with Sanju Samson opening alongside Abhishek Sharma.
Condolences Pour In
Uttar Pradesh Cricket Association (UPCA) chief Prem Manohar Gupta expressed his condolences, saying the entire association stands firmly with Rinku and his family during this difficult time.
BCCI president Mithun Manhas also shared a message on X, offering heartfelt condolences and wishing Rinku strength to cope with the loss.
Focus Shifts to Virtual Knockout
Rinku, a last-minute addition to India’s World Cup squad, has endured a modest campaign so far, scoring 24 runs in five innings, including a duck against South Africa at the Narendra Modi Stadium.
Defending champions India national cricket team now face a virtual knockout clash against West Indies on Sunday, with a semi-final berth at stake. The winner will join South Africa from Group 1 in the last four.
