Rinku Singh returns home due to family emergency; Zimbabwe Super 8 T20 World Cup match uncertain

Rinku Singh was absent from India’s first training session at Chepauk on Tuesday.

Updated on: Feb 24, 2026, 20:11:58 IST

Edited by Aratrick Mondal

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India have been handed a major selection headache ahead of their must-win T20 World Cup Super 8 clash against Zimbabwe at the MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai on Thursday, with batter Rinku Singh returning home due to a family emergency.

Rinku Singh has scored 24 runs in 2026 T20 World Cup (PTI)

The development, according to news agency PTI, came two days before the fixture. Rinku was reportedly absent from India’s first training session at Chepauk on Tuesday, while rest of the teammates were present at the nets.

"Rinku Singh has flown back home from Chennai due to a family emergency. He did not join India's practice session at the Chepauk," the source close to the development said.

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There is currently no clarity on when, or if, he will rejoin the squad for the remainder of the tournament. The report added that Rinku's father Khanchand Singh is currently admitted in a hospital in Greater Noida and is in serious condition and hence the player had to rush back.

Rinku, a last-minute addition to the World Cup squad, has yet to live up to expectations. He scored just 24 runs in five innings thus far, which include a dismissal for a duck against South Africa at the Narendra Modi Stadium.

If Rinku is unavailable for the game against Zimbabwe, India might go in with both Washington Sundar and Axar Patel in the line-up. That would keep the batting depth intact, while also giving captain Suryakumar Yadav a back-up bowling option. India could also go in with an attacking mindset, and pick a wicket-taking spin-bowling option in Kuldeep Yadav against Zimbabwe.

India are already under pressure after suffering a 76-run defeat to South Africa in their opening Super 8 match, their heaviest loss in World Cup history. They currently sit third in the Group 1 table behind West Indies and South Africa.

India, hence, not only have to beat Zimbabwe, they need to win by a big margin to flip their current net run rate of (-) 3.8. Not only do they need to also win against West Indies, in the scheduled Super 8 game in Kolkata on March 1, they need to also hope for South Africa to beat the Windies in their February 26 clash in Ahmedabad.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Aratrick Mondal
Aratrick Mondal is a senior sports journalist based in New Delhi. In his eight years as a sports writer, Aratrick has worked at leading media organisations, including The Times of India, Times Now, Zee, India TV and currently works at a senior position at Hindustan Times Digital. He writes on cricket, football, pickleball and tennis, among other sports. He has extensively covered India's evolving cricket landscape, the country's new-found love for private leagues such as Indian Pickleball League (IPBL), Ultimate Kho Kho League (UKK), Rugby Premier League (RPL) and several tennis leagues. He has closely covered emerging sports such as pickleball. His coverage of major franchise events lends an atmospheric flavor to his ground reports. His recent story on how SA20 (the domestic cricket league of South Africa) had opened up its grounds to create a carnival-like fan experience garnered major international attention, including appreciation from major cricketers. Tennis holds a special place in his heart. Aratrick has built a strong niche in analytical tennis stories—ranging from Grand Slam narratives and player profiles to tactical breakdowns and ranking trends. His long-form features often decode grand slams, career highs and lows of tennis greats and the upward trajectory of emerging stars. He also closely follows India's tennis landscape, having covered the Davis Cup, Bengaluru Open and Tata Open, among others. His reporting is backed by strong data capabilities, with hands-on experience using tools like Python, Tableau, and Excel to produce visually rich, insight-led stories. This data-first approach enhances accuracy, transparency, and trust. In leadership roles, he has managed editorial shifts, overseen homepage strategy, optimised SEO workflows, and mentored peers to deliver consistent, high-traffic journalism. He recently won the HT DigiStar award for the third quarter of financial year 2025-26. Aratrick is trusted for his balanced reportage, sound sourcing, and ability to translate complex sporting events into engaging narratives that speak to a wide audience. He believes sports is for everyone, not just for the enthusiasts and has a unique ability to bring people together - just like the sumptuous meals you'll often find him cooking on a weekend evening.Read More

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