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Rinku Singh, a cricketer with the Indian cricket team, is grieving the death of his father, Khanchand Singh, who died prematurely on February 27, 2026, after making a brave but ultimately unsuccessful fight with liver cancer at stage 4. The 71-year-old died at Yatharth Hospital in Greater Noida, Uttar Pradesh, where he had been admitted recently as his condition sharply worsened over the course of the last few days. He was put under ventilator support and received constant renal replacement therapy, though he could not be revived using medical efforts.

Rinku is, at the moment, in the Indian team in the currently ongoing ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2026 in Chennai and had hurried home earlier this week after getting to know about the critical health condition of his father. He then briefly came into the team on February 26 to play in Super 8 against Zimbabwe, though not in the playing XI. After the tragic news came, Rinku ran out of the camp once again to pay his family a last farewell in Aligarh and to conduct some supportive services during this very trying period.

The main force that has bolstered Rinku during his life at the local, national, and international levels of his career was Khanchand Singh, a lowly delivery worker of LPG cylinders at Aligarh. The emergence of Rinku, with his explosive finishing and under-pressure calm, was a major contribution of the unremitting support of his father and his sacrifices.

Rinku was swarmed with condolences in the cricketing fraternity. Ex-India spinner Harbhajan Singh wrote on X: it, "It is saddening to hear when Shri Khanchand Singh Ji, the father of Rinku Singh, dies." This should be a particularly challenging moment for Rinku and his family, despite him being dedicated to his duties throughout the T20 World Cup. My deepest sincerity and good wishes to the whole family.

The messages of support in the social media were inundated by former teammates, BCCI officials, and fans who offered prayers to give strength to Rinku and his family. The BCCI has guaranteed the player they are with her throughout this personal tragedy.

No inclusion of Rinku in the squad emphasizes the fact that family has to be the major priority even during high-stakes tournaments. Even as the T20 World Cup prepares to head to the semi-finals, the Indian team and fan base are in full support of the 28-year-old batter in his grieving hour. Soul rest in peace May Khanchand Singh.