Team India batter Rinku Singh might not be available for the upcoming crucial T20 World Cup 2026 Super 8 match against Zimbabwe as he has left the squad due to a family emergency. The upcoming contest is scheduled to be played at the MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai, on Thursday, February 26.
According to a report by the Times of India, Rinku Singh was absent from the mandatory training session ahead of the do-or-die match.
“It is reliably learnt that his father was undergoing cancer treatment for over a year, and his condition has deteriorated in the last few days,” the report read.
Team India have a wide variety of options on the bench as they appear to head into the match with a blend of forced and unforced changes after the nature of their most recent Super 8 match. One of the tasks would be to replace Rinku Singh in such a fashion that does not hamper the balance too much as he was the sole specialist finisher in the squad.
On that note, let us take a look at the three ways India can replace Rinku Singh in the IND vs ZIM T20 World Cup 2026 match.
#1 Sanju Samson in for Rinku Singh
Rinku Singh’s absence undoubtedly leaves a hole in Team India’s lower middle-order. However, it comes across as an opportunity to repair or even bolster the top-order which has proven to be the biggest bane in the T20 World Cup 2026, without which resolving other problems seems redundant.
Although Sanju Samson coming in for Rinku Singh is hardly a like-for-like swap, it does allow them to break their left-handed trend at the top of the order. The change also demotes the struggling Tilak Varma to a No.5 role where, although there is a touch of unfamiliarty there is a bit of ease in terms of pressure.
With the likes of Suryakumar Yadav and the in-form Hardik Pandya and Shivam Dube around him, there is no need for him to become the backbone of the batting unit.
The change also does not tarnish India’s batting depth, nor does it affect India’s bowling resources or combination by any means.
#2 Axar Patel in for Rinku Singh
Team India sorely felt the absence of their vice-captain during the humbling loss against South Africa in the Super 8. While it is almost certain that Axar Patel has to return to the playing XI, it need not necessarily be as a straight-swap for Washington Sundar, especially now that Rinku Singh’s spot might be vacant.
Bringing in Axar Patel gives India the third spin bowling option that they have tried to incorporate, and perhaps even need to. His return to the playing XI in place of Rinku Singh, keeps Washington Sundar part of the side, who could play a role on his home ground.
It also gives India a much better roster of six bowlers, instead of having to turn to Shivam Dube on every occasion. Despite the pace bowling all-rounder’s undeniable improvement in terms of increase in pace, bowling smartness, and ability to break partnerships, India cannot afford any more slip-ups from here on, which calls for the need for a proper proven option even for a sixth choice bowler.
With both Axar Patel and Washington Sundar in the setup, they can use the former as a proper floater at No.5 to combat the likes of wrist spinner Graeme Cremer.
#3 Kuldeep Yadav in for Rinku Singh
The defeat against South Africa highlighted that even the No. 1-ranked T20I bowler, Varun Chakaravarthy, can be torn to shreds, and India do not really have a Plan B in such a scenario. With Rinku Singh likely not to be in the scheme of things against Zimbabwe, it gives the management an excellent opportunity to reintegrate Kuldeep Yadav back into the mix.
The Zimbabwe batters will find it quite hard to deal with the mystery of Varun Chakaravarthy and Kuldeep Yadav in tandem at Chepauk, which may have something in it for the spinners.
This particular change might have an impact on the batting depth as a long tail of Kuldeep Yadav, Varun Chakaravarthy, Jasprit Bumrah, and Arshdeep Singh follows the No.7 spot. However, despite recent form, the batting unit has enough reputation and calibre outscore Zimbabwe, especially if they have four specialist bowlers to back up their act across either innings.
Edited by Gokul Nair
