An emotional failure for the Indian cricket team, a middle-order tilt Rinku Singh left T20 World Cup In the Chennai camp and Thursday’s do-or-die Super 8 clash with Zimbabwe at the MA Chidambaram Stadium, he returned to Aligarh to attend a serious family health emergency, with his availability in doubt. The development opened the door for Sanju Samson, who responded with a tight and long net session at Chepauk, displaying his destructive power.
Rinku Singh rushes home as his father’s health deteriorates
According to multiple reports, Rinku’s father, who is battling liver cancer in the fourth stage, has been hospitalized and is currently on ventilator support. The 28-year-old left-hander did not attend the team’s practice session in Chennai on Tuesday and traveled to be with his family during this critical period.
The news comes as a serious blow to India’s plans for an absolute victory. Rinku featured in all five of India’s matches in the tournament, primarily as a critical finisher. While he managed just 24 runs between those innings, often coming with very few deliveries, his presence at No.7 provides an important balance to the lower order.
Team management is unlikely to bring Rinku back for Thursday’s game, with reports suggesting his participation remains uncertain.
Sanju Samson’s extended net session turns heads
The focus shifted dramatically as Rinku’s absence loomed large Sanju Samsonwho responded to the occasion with an extraordinary display of power hitting during a training session at the MA Chidambaram Stadium on Tuesday.
The Kerala keeper, who last played against Namibia on February 12, came to the net at around 18:35 IST and began a marathon session that lasted over two hours. Initially struggling to time the ball against Arshdeep Singh, Shivam Dube and Mohammed Siraj, Samson gradually found his rhythm.
“Samson made his move when Ishan traded with Kishi for the third time” This was reported by The New Indian Express. “He continued with his usual big back and trigger action and took anything long or shorter, pulling Siraj and Arshdeep into the stands.”
The latter especially explained. After his intense session against Tempera, Samson moved to the other end of the ground to face the spinners for another half hour. He then completed drills with pitching coach T Dilip before heading to the open nets for an additional 30 minutes of innings, many of which were done by assistant coach Ryan ten Doeschate himself.
Selection equation: Who makes the playing XI?
Samson’s rise comes at a time when India’s top-order batting is under tight scrutiny after a 76-run hammering by South Africa. The reigning champions were reduced to 111 while chasing 188, the heavy top-order in their left-handers again emerging.
Sunil Gavaskar has defended the return of Axar Patel in place of Washington Sundar, citing the absence of left-handed batsmen in Zimbabwe’s squad. But Rinku’s absence creates an additional vacancy and several combinations are under consideration.
Samson is likely to open the batting and push one of the two left-handers – Abhishek Sharma or Ishan Kishan – down the order.
Apart from the batting changes, India are confident of bringing Axar Patel back into the playing XI after his controversial omission against South Africa. Washington Sundar, preferred in matches against left-handers, has contributed little with both bat and ball and is expected to lead the way.
A traditionally spin-friendly Chepauk surface could also see Kuldeep Yadav return to the XI after his solitary appearance against Pakistan. If India were to pick three spinners, Varun would join Chakravarthy and Kuldeep Axar, while Hardik Pandya and Shivam Dube would provide pace options alongside Jasprit Bumrah and Arshdeep Singh.
India are currently third in Group 1 with zero points and a net run rate of -3,800 after the defeat in South Africa. Thursday’s clash with Zimbabwe is effectively a knockout – another defeat would end their semi-final hopes and extinguish their title defence.
For Samson, who watched most of the tournament from the sidelines, this could be the moment he’s been waiting for. His extended net session in Chennai wasn’t just about timing the ball – it was a statement of intent.
The Kerala batsman now stands on the cusp of a buyout scenario where he will soon represent Chennai Super Kings in IPL 2026.
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