Big News: Rinku Singh to re-join India squad for WI clash on this date following father's demise

India's star batter Rinku Singh is all set to rejoin Team India in Kolkata on February 28 for the key Super 8 clash against West Indies just hours after performing the last rites for his father. Following the tragic news of his father's demise due to liver cancer on February 27 morning, Rinku traveled from Delhi to Aligarh to attend the funeral alongside his four brothers and support his family. Despite this profound personal loss, he has departed to prepare for India's critical final Super 8 match against the West Indies on March 1.

Rinku Singh to rejoin team on February 28

This upcoming encounter against the West Indies is arguably the most crucial match of the tournament for Team India. A victory is mandatory to secure a spot in the semifinals, while a loss would result in immediate elimination from the T20 World Cup 2026.

Rinku's return comes during a challenging stretch in his tournament performance, having scored only 24 runs across five matches. Critics have pointed out that he has been deployed at number eight in several games, a position that many believe is too low for a specialist batter of his caliber. Nonetheless, his rapid return highlights his commitment to the team's vital mission in Kolkata. Rinku performed the last rites for his father Khanchand in Aligarh, Uttar Pradesh. Khanchand passed away on Friday morning at Yatharth Hospital in Greater Noida following a prolonged battle with liver cancer.

However, for the critical knockout match against Zimbabwe, team selectors decided to restructure the lineup, bringing in Sanju Samson and Axar Patel while leaving Rinku Singh out of the starting eleven. These tactical adjustments saw Samson return to the opening slot, resulting in Ishan Kishan dropping down the batting order and Tilak Varma being assigned the crucial role of late-innings aggressor.

Will Rinku Singh feature against West Indies?

Following the completion of his father's final rites, 27-year-old Rinku is scheduled to rejoin his teammates on February 28 to prepare for their pivotal showdown against the West Indies. However, it remains uncertain whether he will be mentally and emotionally prepared to feature in the playing eleven given the devastating personal loss he has just experienced.