Indian all-rounder Rinku Singh is mourning the loss of his father, Khanchand, who passed away on Thursday night after battling liver cancer. Amid the personal tragedy, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has provided clarity on his availability for India’s next T20 World Cup fixture.
BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia confirmed that Rinku, who rushed home following his father’s demise, will rejoin the squad in Kolkata on Saturday ahead of India’s crucial Super 8 clash against the West Indies cricket team.
“Rinku Singh will join the team tomorrow in Kolkata,” Saikia told IANS.
The left-hander had left Chennai at 5:00 am to travel to New Delhi to attend the last rites. Khanchand had been admitted to Yatharth Hospital in Greater Noida on February 21 after his health deteriorated significantly and was placed on ventilator support before passing away in the early hours of Friday.
Rinku had earlier been by his father’s side during his illness but rejoined the Indian squad ahead of the Zimbabwe fixture at the MA Chidambaram Stadium. However, he did not feature in the playing XI, with Sanju Samson getting the nod to open alongside Abhishek Sharma.
Condolences poured in from the cricketing fraternity. Uttar Pradesh Cricket Association (UPCA) chief Prem Manohar Gupta expressed his grief, saying the entire association stands firmly with Rinku and his family during this difficult period. BCCI president Mithun Manhas also shared his condolences on social media, praying for strength for the young cricketer and his family.
Rinku, a late addition to India’s T20 World Cup squad, has struggled for form in the tournament so far, scoring 24 runs in five innings, including a duck against South Africa at the Narendra Modi Stadium.
Defending champions India now face West Indies in a virtual knockout on Sunday, with a semi-final berth at stake. The winner will join South Africa from Group 1 in the last four, adding further significance to an already emotional moment for Rinku as he prepares to return to national duty.