India batter Rinku Singh has flown back home after a sudden family emergency, casting doubt over his availability for the remainder of the Super 8 stage.
Sources have confirmed that his father, Khanchand Singh, is in critical condition and has been admitted to a hospital in Greater Noida.
Rinku had travelled with the squad to Chennai on Monday, February 23, following India’s Super 8 fixture. However, he departed early Tuesday morning after being informed about his father’s deteriorating health. He was absent from the team’s training session later that evening and is unlikely to feature in India’s upcoming clash against Zimbabwe on February 26.
Crucial phase for India
Rinku’s departure comes at a delicate juncture in the tournament. India are under pressure after suffering a heavy defeat to South Africa in their Super 8 opener — a result that ended their 12-match unbeaten streak in the competition and dented their Net Run Rate significantly.
With semifinal qualification hanging in the balance, India now face a Zimbabwe side that has already proven to be dangerous opposition. The Sikandar Raza-led team stunned both Australia and Sri Lanka in the group stage to reach the Super 8, though they began this phase with a loss to the West Indies.
India will likely need convincing wins in their remaining matches to stay in contention for a semifinal berth. Should Rinku be unavailable, Axar Patel could come into the playing XI. The vice-captain was surprisingly left out in the previous game — a move that drew criticism from former players and fans.
For now, the team’s focus will remain split between preparations for a must-win encounter and concern for their teammate during a challenging personal moment.
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