- By Vishal Pushkar
- Wed, 25 Feb 2026 04:59 PM (IST)
- Source:JND
T20 World Cup 2026: India's middle-order batter Rinku Singh, who left the squad to see his ailing father, will join the squad in Chennai on Wednesday evening (February 25). Notably, Rinku's father has been hospitalised in a hospital in Greater Noida for the treatment of stage-four liver cancer.
“Rinku Singh is joining the team this evening. He went back home because his father is not well," India batting coach Sitanshu Kotak told reporters in Chennai on Wednesday.
As per reports, Rinku’s father, Khanchand Singh, is in serious condition, which forced Rinku to head back to his family.
“Rinku Singh flew back home from Chennai due to a family emergency and did not join India’s practice session at the Chepauk (held on Tuesday)," news agency PTI quoted a source as saying.
The 28-year-old is a middle-order batsman known for his finishing skills. Thus far, he has played in all five matches for India in the current T20 World Cup, accumulating only 24 runs. There were concerns regarding his fitness for the critical Super 8 match against Zimbabwe on Thursday.
Bring In Axar Patel For Sundar: Shastri
Ravi Shastri, the former head coach of India, has also suggested that the team should reinstate Axar Patel, but not at the expense of Washington Sundar.
“They have to bring him (Axar Patel) back. You need that experience. I would say play both (Patel and Sundar). Give yourself that extra option. Because on a given day, you’re bound to have one bowler who’s going to have an off day – like, for example, Varun Chakravarthy on Sunday," Shastri told ICC Review.
“If Axar Patel is playing, he might bat at No. 8. You have Hardik Pandya at No. 5, Shivam Dube at No. 6, and Washington Sundar at No. 7. Axar can go at No. 5 as well. Now, if eight batters can’t do the job in T20 cricket, then something’s wrong — especially with that kind of firepower. Where you’re missing out is not giving yourself that extra bowling option, which I think is important," he added.