Indian cricketer Rinku Singh will rejoin the national squad in Kolkata ahead of India’s crucial ICC T20 World Cup 2026 Super Eight match against the West Indies, according to reports. The left-handed batter had travelled to Aligarh following the death of his father and attended the last rites on Friday.
Rinku’s father, Khanchand Singh, passed away at a hospital in Greater Noida after battling stage four cancer. His mortal remains were later brought to Aligarh, where family members, relatives and members of the local community gathered to pay their respects. Rinku performed the final rituals in his hometown before preparing to rejoin the team.
Sources within the Board of Control for Cricket in India indicated that Rinku remains committed to India’s World Cup campaign despite the personal loss. He is expected to travel to Kolkata on Saturday, with India scheduled to play a must-win fixture at Eden Gardens on Sunday evening.
Earlier this week, Rinku had briefly left the squad during India’s Super Eight phase to be with his family while his father was undergoing treatment. He was also seen with the team in Chennai during India’s comprehensive win over Zimbabwe but did not feature in the playing XI.
The team management, led by head coach Gautam Gambhir and captain Suryakumar Yadav, faces a selection decision ahead of the West Indies clash. India must secure a victory to progress to the semifinals, with a defeat potentially ending their campaign.
Senior players, including Virat Kohli, have extended support to Rinku during this difficult time. Kohli himself continued to represent India after losing his father early in his career, offering a reminder of the emotional strength often required in professional sport.
Rinku’s return provides India with an additional middle-order option at a crucial juncture of the ICC T20 World Cup 2026. Whether he makes the final XI remains to be seen, but his presence in Kolkata will boost the squad ahead of their decisive encounter.
