Cricket star Rinku Singh is reeling from a personal tragedy as his father, Khanchand Singh, succumbed to liver cancer early Friday at Yatharth Hospital in Greater Noida. Admitted six days prior on February 21 when his health plummeted, the patient was kept on life support but passed away at 4:36 AM, cutting short a life that supported his son’s dreams.
UPCA Secretary Prem Manohar Gupta, voicing the sentiments of many, called the passing ‘heart-wrenching and premature.’ In an interview, he prayed for divine comfort to the family and affirmed UPCA’s support. ‘We haven’t spoken yet, but we’ll attend the peace prayers or terahvin to offer condolences. Sportspeople are mentally tough; Rinku will bounce back soon,’ Gupta assured.
Amid wedding preparations and Rinku’s inclusion in the 2026 T20 World Cup team, the timing amplifies the pain. Rinku had rushed from Chennai, where India played Zimbabwe on Thursday, to Noida for a bedside vigil but rejoined the squad without playing.
BCCI’s Devjit Saikia echoed the grief: ‘My deepest condolences from BCCI to Rinku Singh and family during this challenging phase.’ Khanchand’s battle with cancer highlights the unseen struggles behind athletic glory. Fans and peers remember him as the pillar enabling Rinku’s journey from local pitches to global arenas, with messages of strength flooding social media.