Overview:
During the tournament, Rinku featured in five matches, accumulating 24 runs. He is set to represent Kolkata Knight Riders in the Indian Premier League 2026
Rinku Singh shared a heartfelt message for his late father, Khanchandra Singh, following India’s emphatic 96-run victory over New Zealand in the Men’s T20 World Cup final at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad on Sunday. Khanchandra passed away on February 27 after battling stage 4 liver cancer at Yatharth Hospital in Greater Noida.
In an emotional Instagram post, Rinku expressed how difficult it has been without speaking to his father, saying life feels unimaginable without his guidance. He fondly remembered his father’s lesson that duty comes first, which inspired him to keep pursuing cricket. Rinku admitted that despite achieving his dream, moments of happiness feel incomplete without his father by his side.
“Aapse baat kiye bina itne din kabhi nahi nikale. Mujhe nahi pata aage ki zindagi aapke bina kaise chalegi par mujhe har kadam par aapki zaroorat padegi (I don’t know how I’ll move forward without you, but I feel your presence will guide me every step of the way,” Rinku wrote.
The devastating news reached Rinku while he was with the Indian squad for the T20 World Cup. He immediately flew from Chennai to his hometown, Aligarh to perform the last rites, appearing visibly overwhelmed as he helped carry his father’s mortal remains.
“Aapne sikhaya tha ki farz sabse aage hai.. toh field par bas aapka sapna poora karne ki koshish kar raha tha. Ab aapka sapna pura ho gaya hai. toh bas yahi lagta hai ki kash aap mere paas hote. (You always taught me that duty comes first, so on the field I was just trying to honour your dream. Now that the dream has been fulfilled, I only wish you were here to share this moment with me).” Rinku further wrote.
“Har chhoti badi khushi mein aapki kami khalegi. Bohot miss karunga aapko Papa… bohot zyada. (I will feel your absence in every little and big moment of joy. I will miss you deeply, Papa, very, very much)” Rinku added.
Rinku Singh had missed out on India’s T20 World Cup squad in 2024, and was named as a travelling reserve. This year, he finally earned his place in the main squad, making his debut in a World Cup for the national team.
During the tournament, Rinku featured in five matches, accumulating 24 runs. He is set to represent Kolkata Knight Riders in the Indian Premier League 2026 which is scheduled to commence on March 28.