NEW DELHI: Indian cricketer Rinku Singh’s father, Khanchand Singh, passed away early Friday at a hospital in Greater Noida after a prolonged illness, family sources and hospital officials confirmed.
Dr Sunil Kumar, spokesperson of Yatharth Hospital, said Khanchand Singh had been battling advanced-stage liver cancer.
“His condition had deteriorated significantly in recent days, following which he had been admitted to the hospital on February 21. He was placed on ventilator support and breathed his last early this morning,” Kumar said.
Rinku, who was part of India’s ICC Men’s T20 World Cup squad, had returned home midway through the tournament to be with his ailing father in Noida and later rejoined the team ahead of the match against Zimbabwe on February 26. Though he did not feature in the playing XI, he was seen supporting the squad during India’s win.
The family said Khanchand Singh’s last rites will be performed in Aligarh, with Rinku expected to attend later in the day.
A resident of Aligarh district in Uttar Pradesh, Rinku has often credited his father — who worked in gas cylinder distribution — for backing his cricketing dreams despite financial hardships. Khanchand Singh had also attended Rinku’s engagement ceremony with Priya Saroj in Lucknow in June 2025 despite his health challenges.
