Rinku Singh’s father passes away; Kohli, Harbhajan and Yuvraj pay tribute

Tributes poured in from across the cricketing fraternity after India batter Rinku Singh’s father, Khanchand Singh, passed away on Friday following a prolonged battle with liver cancer.

Khanchand Singh breathed his last at Yatharth Hospital in Greater Noida in the early hours of Friday morning. He had been admitted on February 21 after his condition deteriorated and was placed on ventilator support before he succumbed.

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India batting stalwart Virat Kohli led the condolences, expressing his grief in a heartfelt message on X.

“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,” Kohli wrote.

Former India all-rounder Yuvraj Singh also stood in solidarity with Rinku and his family. “Heartbreaking news to hear of the passing of Rinku’s father. In moments like these, no words feel enough. Standing in solidarity with you and your family during this difficult time. May you find strength and courage in the love that surrounds you,” he posted.

Ex-India spinner Harbhajan Singh conveyed his condolences, saying,

“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. 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.”

Former opener and commentator Aakash Chopra also offered prayers for the grieving family. “Really sad to hear about the passing of Rinku’s father. May God give you and your family strength to deal with the pain and the loss. Stay strong, brother. Om Shanti,” he wrote.

Rinku’s coach, Masood Uz Zafar Amini, revealed that the cricketer’s father had initially been opposed to him pursuing cricket before eventually becoming one of his biggest supporters. “He was very happy when India won the match against Pakistan,” Amini said.

Following the news, Rinku rushed from Chennai to be with his family. He had earlier briefly returned home when his father’s condition worsened after India’s first Super 8 fixture against South Africa but rejoined the T20 World Cup squad ahead of the Zimbabwe clash. However, he did not feature in the playing XI.

The mortal remains of Khanchand Singh were brought to Aligarh, where Rinku gave a shoulder during the funeral procession.

Earlier, BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia confirmed that Rinku will not travel with the Indian team to Kolkata for their final Super 8 clash against the West Indies on Sunday.

The Uttar Pradesh Cricket Association (UPCA) chief Prem Manohar Gupta also expressed his condolences.

“Really disheartened to hear about the demise of Rinku Singh’s father. Happiness had just begun to come into the family, and Rinku’s wedding had recently been fixed. At such a time, this loss feels even more painful. The entire UPCA stands firmly with Rinku Singh and his family,” he said.

BCCI president Mithun Manhas extended his sympathies as well, writing,

“Deeply saddened to hear about the passing of Rinku Singh’s father. My heartfelt condolences to Rinku and his family in this difficult time. May Lord Shiva give him the strength to stay strong.”

Rinku has featured in India’s T20 World Cup campaign in a limited role so far, often batting in the closing stages of the innings. He has scored 24 runs in five innings in the tournament.

The Indian team will now travel to Kolkata for their final Super 8 fixture, while Rinku remains with his family during this period of mourning.