Rinku Singh’s father, Khanchand Singh, passed away on Friday after battling a long-term illness, reportedly a stage four cancer, former India spinner Harbhajan Singh confirmed.
According to a Times Now report, Rinku’s father was undergoing treatment at a Greater Noida hospital. However, earlier this week, his condition worsened, and he had to be put on ventilator support.
Owing to his father’s deteriorating health, the 28-year-old Indian all-rounder had left the camp ahead of the T20 World Cup 2026 Super 8s match against Zimbabwe at the MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai.
He had managed to return in time for the match, but was replaced by Sanju Samson in the playing XI.
Harbhajan Singh extends condolences
The veteran cricketer shared the news and in a tweet, said, “Pained to learn about the demise of Shri Khanchand Singh Ji, father of Rinku Singh.”
“This must be an especially difficult time for Rinku and his family, even as he remains committed to his responsibilities during the T20 World Cup,” Harbhajan said, offering condolences to the family.
“My heartfelt thoughts and prayers are with him and his loved ones. May Waheguru grant eternal peace to the departed soul and give strength and courage to the bereaved family,” he added.
About Rinku’s father
Rinku’s father, Khanchand, played an instrumental role in shaping his career as a cricketer.
He worked as an LPG Cylinder deliveryman in Aligarh, and despite financial challenges, he ensured that Rinku got everything possible to make it big as a cricketer.
Last year, Rinku gifted his father with a Kawasaki Ninja bike worth ₹3.19 lakh.
Rinku Singh’s performance so far
So far, Rinku has had a mixed bag World Cup with the bat, often arriving at the crease with very few balls left to score. He has made just 24 runs in five innings, staying unbeaten twice and having a best score of 11*.
In 10 T20Is this year, the left-hander has made 115 runs in eight innings at an average of 28.75, with a strike rate of 132.18 and best score of 44*.
The Indian team will now travel to Kolkata for their last Super 8 clash against the West Indies on Sunday. The winner of the match will join South Africa to qualify for the semi-finals from Group 1.