Virat Kohli expressed heartfelt condolences to his teammate Rinku Singh after the passing of Rinku’s father, Khanchand Singh, early on Friday morning. Khanchand passed away at a private hospital in Greater Noida following a prolonged battle with illness, leaving the cricketing fraternity deeply saddened.

Taking to social media, Kohli shared an emotional message for the young batter and his family. “Deeply saddened by the news of Rinku’s father’s demise. My heartfelt prayers and thoughts are with you and your family during this difficult time. May you always find strength in his eternal blessings. Om Shanti,” Virat Kohli wrote on X, extending support to his teammate during the tragic moment.

Deeply saddened by the news of Rinku’s father’s demise. My heartfelt prayers and thoughts are with you and your family during this difficult time. May you always find strength in his eternal blessings. Om Shanti. 🙏 @rinkusingh235

— Virat Kohli (@imVkohli) February 27, 2026

According to hospital spokesperson Dr. Sunil Kumar, Khanchand Singh had been suffering from advanced liver cancer. His health deteriorated significantly in the past week, which led to his admission to the hospital on February 21. Despite being placed on ventilator support, he passed away on Friday morning.

Rinku’s childhood coach, Masood Amini, also confirmed the news, revealing that Khanchand had been on ventilator support for the last three to four days before his demise.

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Rinku, who is currently part of India’s squad in the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026, had briefly returned home during the tournament to visit his ailing father in Noida. After spending time with his family, he rejoined the squad ahead of India’s Super 8 clash against the Zimbabwe national cricket team on February 26.

Although Rinku did not feature in the playing XI for that match, he remained with the squad and even took the field briefly as a substitute fielder, showing his commitment to the team despite the personal hardship. The final rites of Khanchand Singh are expected to take place later in the day in Aligarh, where Rinku is likely to be present with his family.

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The 28-year-old cricketer has often spoken about his father’s sacrifices while growing up. Khanchand Singh worked in gas cylinder distribution in Aligarh and supported his son’s dream of becoming a professional cricketer despite financial challenges. He had also attended Rinku’s engagement ceremony with Priya Saroj in Lucknow in June 2025, even while battling health issues.