The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has confirmed that Indian batter Rinku Singh will rejoin the national squad in Kolkata ahead of India’s crucial Super 8 clash against the West Indies cricket team in the ongoing ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026. The confirmation came from BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia after Rinku briefly returned home following his father’s demise.
Speaking to IANS, Devajit Saikia confirmed the update about the young batter’s return. “Rinku Singh will join the team tomorrow in Kolkata,” Saikia stated, providing clarity on the player’s availability ahead of India’s high-stakes encounter.
Rinku had rushed home earlier after his father, Khanchand Singh, passed away late Thursday night following a prolonged battle with liver cancer. Khanchand had been undergoing treatment at Yatharth Hospital after his health deteriorated in recent days. He was admitted to the hospital on February 21 and was later placed on ventilator support before passing away in the early hours of Friday.
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The 28-year-old cricketer left Chennai early in the morning to travel to New Delhi and then to his hometown, Aligarh, to perform the last rites of his father. Despite the emotional setback, Rinku had earlier shown commitment to national duty by briefly rejoining the Indian squad ahead of the Zimbabwe fixture at the MA Chidambaram Stadium. However, he did not feature in the playing XI as Sanju Samson was preferred to open the innings alongside Abhishek Sharma.
Rinku Singh rejoins Team India in Kolkata after performing his father’s last rites, showing remarkable resolve ahead of the Super 8 clash vs West Indies. His courage echoes Tendulkar (1999) and Kohli (2006).
✍🏻 @CricSubhayan #RinkuSingh https://t.co/gIgn0Dnu1d
— RevSportz Global (@RevSportzGlobal) February 27, 2026
The cricket fraternity has rallied around the young batter during this difficult period. Uttar Pradesh Cricket Association (UPCA) chairman Prem Manohar Gupta expressed deep condolences, saying the entire association stands firmly with Rinku and his family during this painful time.
Meanwhile, Mithun Manhas also shared a heartfelt message on social media, extending his sympathies and praying for strength for the cricketer and his family as they cope with the loss.
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On the cricketing front, Rinku’s tournament so far has been relatively quiet. Since being drafted into the World Cup squad at the last moment, he has scored 24 runs across five innings, including a duck against the South Africa national cricket team at the Narendra Modi Stadium.
India, the defending champions, now face a virtual knockout match against the West Indies on Sunday in Kolkata. With a semi-final spot on the line, the winner of the contest will join the South Africa national cricket team as the second qualifier from Group 1 of the Super 8 stage.
