Rinku Singh is all set to join the Indian team in Kolkata on Saturday ahead of their T20 World Cup 2026 Super 8 match against the West Indies, which will be played at the iconic Eden Gardens on Sunday, February 28. The BCCI secretary confirmed that the left-handed batsman Rinku, who returned home after his father’s demise on Thursday night due to liver cancer, will resume her services for the Men in Blue.
"Rinku Singh will join the team tomorrow in Kolkata," BCCI Secretary Devajit Saikia was quoted as saying to IANS. Rinku missed India's previous match against Zimbabwe as he was replaced by Sanju Samson in the playing XI. Rinku, who is part of India’s T20 World Cup squad, left Chennai at 5:00 AM to rush to New Delhi and performed last rites of his father, Khanchand.
Rinku's father had been admitted to Yatharth Hospital in Greater Noida on February 21 after his condition deteriorated significantly. He was placed on ventilator support before passing away in the early hours of Friday. The star Indian batter Rinku had previously been by his father’s side when his condition worsened, but rejoined the squad ahead of India’s match against Zimbabwe in Chennai. The cricketing fraternity was quick to react and console Rinku and his family after a personal loss. The BCCI president, Mithun Manhas, also extended his heartfelt condolences via X post, "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 had a disappointing outing in the T20 World Cup 2026, scoring just 24 runs in five innings so far, including a dismissal for a duck against South Africa at the Narendra Modi Stadium. Notably, the final Super 8 match of the tournament between India and the West Indies will be the virtual knockout game as the winner of that fixture will make it to the semifinal.
India vs West Indies Squads, T20 World Cup 2026:
India Squad: Suryakumar Yadav (C), Axar Patel, Sanju Samson, Abhishek Sharma, Tilak Varma, Hardik Pandya, Ishan Kishan, Shivam Dube, Washington Sundar, Jasprit Bumrah, Varun Chakravarthy, Kuldeep Yadav, Arshdeep Singh, Rinku Singh, Mohammed Siraj
West Indies Squad: Shai Hope (C), Johnson Charles, Roston Chase, Matthew Forde, Shimron Hetmyer, Jason Holder, Akeal Hosein, Shamar Joseph, Brandon King, Gudakesh Motie, Rovman Powell, Sherfane Rutherford, Quentin Sampson, Jayden Seales, Romario Shepherd