Chennai: Indian middle-order batter Rinku Singh has departed the national team’s T20 World Cup camp in Chennai to return home on Tuesday following a medical emergency involving his father.

The 28-year-old left-hander exited the squad just two days before India’s critical Super 8 encounter against Zimbabwe at the MA Chidambaram Stadium. According to BCCI sources and multiple reports, Singh’s father, Khanchandra Singh, has been hospitalised in Greater Noida in serious condition. His father has reportedly been battling stage-4 liver cancer for more than a year and was recently placed on ventilator support as his health deteriorated.

The timing of Singh’s departure leaves the defending champions with a significant selection dilemma for Thursday’s must-win fixture. India is currently under pressure to secure a victory after a heavy 76-run loss to South Africa in their opening second-round match, a defeat that has left them sitting third in Group 1. While Singh has experienced a dip in form during the tournament, tallying just 24 runs across five innings, his role as a specialised finisher has been a staple of the team's white-ball strategy.

In his absence, team management was seen exploring middle-order alternatives during Tuesday’s practice session, where Sanju Samson took an extended turn in the nets. Although there is no official timeline for Singh’s return, some reports suggest he could potentially rejoin the squad before India's subsequent match against the West Indies if his family situation stabilises.

The Indian squad, led by Suryakumar Yadav, arrived in Chennai on Monday and must win their remaining Super 8 games to remain in contention for the semi-finals.