Rinku Singh leaves India squad to return home ahead of crucial T20 World Cup 2026 clash against Zimbabwe; here's why
Rinku Singh departed early on Tuesday morning, missing India's practice session at the MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai.
India's middle-order batter Rinku Singh has left the national team camp in Chennai and rushed home due to a serious family emergency. The left-hander departed early on Tuesday morning, missing India's practice session at the MA Chidambaram Stadium. This comes just two days before India's must-win Super 8 match against Zimbabwe on Thursday (February 26), at the same venue.
Reason behind Rinku Singh's departure
According to a report by PTI, Rinku Singh's father, Khanchand Singh, has been admitted to a hospital in Greater Noida. He is reportedly in serious condition, battling a long-term illness."
“Rinku Singh has flown back home from Chennai due to a family emergency. He did not join India’s practice session at the Chepauk," a BCCI source told PTI.
The team management and fans have rallied in support, with many wishing for his father's speedy recovery. Notably, it remains uncertain whether or not Rinku will rejoin the squad in time for the Zimbabwe game.
Rinku Singh's performance in T20 World Cup so far
Rinku Singh has struggled with the bat throughout the ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2026. He made his tournament debut against the United States on February 7 in Mumbai, scoring only 6 runs off 14 balls. Against Namibia in Delhi on February 12, he managed just 1 run from six deliveries. He stayed unbeaten on 11 off 4 balls versus Pakistan in Colombo and hit 6 off three against the Netherlands in Ahmedabad on February 18.
In India's opening Super 8 loss, a heavy 76-run defeat to South Africa at Narendra Modi Stadium on February 22, Rinku came in at No. 8 during the chase of 188 but was dismissed for a duck off two balls by Keshav Maharaj. His overall tally stands at 24 runs across five innings, with a best of 11 not out.
High-stakes Super 8 scenario for India
India, led by Suryakumar Yadav, are under immense pressure in Super 8 Group 1 following the big loss to South Africa. The defeat damaged their net run rate significantly to -3.800, placing them third in the group behind West Indies (+5.350 NRR) and South Africa (+3.800 NRR).
The Zimbabwe clash is now a virtual do-or-die for India. A loss, especially could end India's title defence early. The team needs a strong, convincing win to boost their chances of advancing to the semifinals.
About the Author
Aachal Maniyar is a Senior Content Producer at LiveMint, where she covers US sports with a focus on major leagues, marquee events, and athlete-driven stories, while also reporting extensively on cricket and global sports. With over five years of first-hand journalism experience, she combines sharp editorial judgment with real-time sports storytelling across platforms. <br><br> Her reporting journey spans leading newsrooms including Thomson Reuters, India TV, BTVI, ET NOW, and CNBC TV18, where she has worked across breaking news, live match coverage, feature writing, interviews, video scripting, and anchoring. This multi-platform exposure has shaped her ability to deliver context-rich sports and business journalism tailored for both television and digital audiences. <br><br> Aachal has conducted and produced exclusive interviews with athletes and public figures such as India cricketer Dhruv Jurel, Indian women’s hockey captain Savita Punia, and industrialist Ratan Tata, along with several emerging and established sports personalities. Her body of work includes in-depth explainers, athlete profiles, emotionally resonant fan narratives, and data-backed match analysis across cricket, Olympic sports, and international competitions. <br><br> She holds a Master’s degree in Journalism from Symbiosis Institute of Media and Communication, Pune, and believes in reporting that is grounded in accuracy, clarity, and credibility. Her philosophy is simple: sports journalism should go beyond scores and statistics, capturing the human stories, pressure moments, and decisions that shape the game and the people who play it.
Stay updated with all the latest news and insights on Cricket, Football, and Tennis at Livemint Sports. Catch the live action of theT20 World Cup 2026 with the complete T20 World Cup 2026 Schedule, and the T20 World Cup 2026 Points Table. Also, know who are currently leading the charts for Most Runs in T20 World Cup 2026 and Most Wickets in T20 World Cup 2026.
Wait for it…
Oops! Looks like you have exceeded the limit to bookmark the image. Remove some to bookmark this image.