In the 2026 T20 World Cup, India will play Zimbabwe in a crucial match on February 26 at M. A. Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai. Unfortunately, Team India faces a setback as star finisher Rinku Singh has gone home due to a family emergency. His father’s health has worsened, and he is in a hospital in Greater Noida. This leaves Rinku’s participation in the match uncertain.
The key question now is: who will take his place if he doesn’t play?
India has two potential replacements. The first option is Axar Patel. If selected, India could field four all-rounders — Shivam Dube, Hardik Pandya, Axar Patel, and Washington Sundar. Given Chennai’s spin-friendly pitch, adding another spinner could be beneficial. The pace attack is expected to consist of Arshdeep Singh and Jasprit Bumrah, while Axar would also provide extra batting strength.
The second option is Sanju Samson, who can bat at the top or at number three, enhancing India’s batting lineup. There have been ongoing talks about giving him a stable opportunity. If Sanju plays, he will need to prove he can perform consistently, matching the strong support he receives online.
This is not just any match. India needs to win to keep their semi-final hopes alive, and net run rate will also be important. All attention is now on the team management’s choice — whether to add an extra spinner or strengthen the batting order.
