In a worrying development for the Indian Cricket team, middle-order batter Rinku Singh has left the T20 World Cup camp in Chennai to handle a serious family health issue. His father is critically ill, which raises concerns about his participation in the upcoming Super 8 match against Zimbabwe at the MA Chidambaram Stadium. This situation provides an opportunity for Sanju Samson, who has been training intensively ahead of the match.
Rinku Singh returns home due to father’s illness
Reports indicate that Rinku’s father is suffering from advanced liver cancer and is currently in the hospital on ventilator support. The 28-year-old left-hander missed the team practice session in Chennai on Tuesday to be with his family during this challenging time.
This news is a significant setback for India’s plans for the crucial match. Rinku has played in all five of India’s matches in the tournament, mainly taking on the vital finisher’s role. Though he has scored only 24 runs in those innings, his position at No. 7 is essential for balancing the lower order.
The team management is unlikely to rush Rinku back for Thursday’s match, leaving his participation uncertain.
Sanju Samson shines in practice
In light of Rinku’s absence, the attention has shifted to Sanju Samson, who delivered an impressive performance in Tuesday’s practice session at the MA Chidambaram Stadium.
The wicketkeeper-batter from Kerala, who last played on February 12 against Namibia, arrived at the nets around 6:35 pm IST for an extended session that lasted more than two hours. After initial struggles to connect against bowlers Arshdeep Singh, Shivam Dube, and Mohammed Siraj, Samson gradually regained his form.
“By the time he switched with Ishan Kishan for the third time, Samson was in full flow,” reported The New Indian Express. “He showcased his strength, hitting balls from Siraj and Arshdeep into the stands.”
After his focus on pace bowlers, Samson spent another half-hour against spinners and then completed wicketkeeping drills with fielding coach T Dilip before doing additional throwdowns under assistant coach Ryan ten Doeschate.
Selection dilemma: Who will play?
Samson’s strong performance comes as India’s top-order batting has faced criticism after their 76-run loss to South Africa, where they were all out for just 111 runs while chasing 188. Concerns have been raised about their left-heavy batting line-up.
Sunil Gavaskar suggests replacing Washington Sundar with Axar Patel due to the opposition’s lack of left-handed batsmen. Rinku’s absence also opens up another spot, leading to several potential line-up combinations.
There’s a chance that Samson could take a spot at the top of the order, possibly pushing either Abhishek Sharma or Ishan Kishan further down.
Besides the batting reshuffle, it is likely that Axar Patel will return to the playing XI after missing out against South Africa. Sundar, who struggled in both batting and bowling, is expected to be dropped.
The Chepauk pitch, known for supporting spin, may see Kuldeep Yadav return after his previous outing against Pakistan. If India opts for three spinners, Varun Chakravarthy and Kuldeep could join Axar, while Hardik Pandya and Shivam Dube offer pace alongside Jasprit Bumrah and Arshdeep Singh.
Currently, India is third in Group 1 with no points and a concerning net run rate of -3.800 following their defeat to South Africa. The match against Zimbabwe is a must-win, as another loss would eliminate their chances of reaching the semifinals and jeopardize their title defense.
For Samson, who has been largely sidelined during the tournament, this might be the chance he has been waiting for. His lengthy practice session in Chennai reflects his determination to make an impact.
This Kerala batter is on the verge of a crucial opportunity to prove himself, particularly as he prepares to represent Chennai Super Kings in IPL 2026.
