Indian Cricketer Rinku Singh Mourns the Death of Father Khanchand Singh After Cancer Battle

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Rinku Singh, the Indian cricket team’s rising star and middle-order finisher, suffered a devastating personal loss on Friday morning as his father, Khanchand Singh, passed away. Battling advanced stage-four liver cancer, Khanchand had been on ventilator support at Yatharth Hospital in Greater Noida.

This sad news was confirmed by former cricketer Harbhajan Singh. Rinku is currently with the Indian team for the 2026 T20 World Cup. He must now balance his career duties with his personal grief.

From Cylinder Delivery to Cricket Legend: The Khanchand Legacy


Khanchand Singh lived a life of hard work. For many years, he delivered LPG gas cylinders in Aligarh, earning a small salary of about Rs. 12,000 a month. This money supported his large family of seven people. He was the quiet strength behind Rinku’s success. Rinku went from living in a small two-room shack to playing on the world stage with his father’s strong support.

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At first, Khanchand did not want Rinku to play cricket, wanting him to focus on his studies. However, his mind changed once Rinku started winning prizes.

How Will This Loss Impact India’s World Cup Campaign?


Rinku had to leave the team camp briefly after a match against South Africa. He went to see his sick father and returned just in time for the game against Zimbabwe on 26 February 2026. He did not play in the game, but stayed with his teammates. 

plays the West Indies next on 1 March 2026 in Kolkata. Now the team leaders have a hard choice to make as Rinku is expected to go to Aligarh for the funeral. He will then decide when to come back to the team. "He remains committed to his responsibilities during the T20 World Cup," noted Harbhajan Singh on X (formerly Twitter).

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If Rinku needs more time off, players like Sanju Samson or Axar Patel might take his place. Losing his ‘biggest pillar of strength’ will be hard for Rinku. It could affect how he plays in the final matches of the tournament.