The tragedy unfolded against the backdrop of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup, highlighting a week of immense personal emotional turmoil for the 28-year-old cricketer. Rinku had briefly stepped away from the national team camp on February 24 to visit his ailing father but, in a show of profound professional commitment, rejoined the squad in Chennai ahead of the Super 8 fixture against Zimbabwe on February 26. Although he was not included in the starting XI for the match—which India won by 72 runs—Rinku remained present in the dugout and even took the field as a substitute, embodying the resilience his father had famously instilled in him.
Khanchand Singh’s life remains one of the most celebrated stories of paternal sacrifice in Indian sports. For decades, he worked as an LPG cylinder delivery man in Aligarh, earning a meager salary to support a family of seven while navigating the financial hardships common to India's working class. Rinku often recounted how his father’s backbreaking labor provided the foundation for his own meteoric rise from the modest streets of Uttar Pradesh to becoming a household name in the Indian Premier League. The bond between the two was famously captured last year when Rinku gifted his father a high-end motorcycle, a symbolic gesture intended to replace the heavy loads of his delivery years with the rewards of his son's success.
The news of Khanchand’s passing triggered an outpouring of grief across social media, with cricket legends Harbhajan Singh, Yuvraj Singh, and Virender Sehwag leading the tributes. They characterized the senior Singh not just as a father, but as the quiet architect of Rinku’s success, whose determination allowed his son to transform from an underdog into one of the country's most reliable "clutch" finishers. Following the announcement, Rinku left the team camp in Chennai to return to Aligarh, where the final rites are scheduled to take place later today.
As the Indian team prepares for its final Super 8 encounter against the West Indies in Kolkata, the squad carries a heavy heart for their teammate. The passing of Khanchand Singh serves as a poignant reminder of the humble beginnings and the silent, monumental sacrifices that often propel India’s greatest sporting icons to the global stage. While Rinku mourns the loss of his greatest pillar of strength, the legacy of the man who delivered cylinders so his son could deliver boundaries remains etched in the hearts of fans across the nation.
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