Rinku Singh To Play India Vs England Semifinal? Gautam Gambhir Gives Massive Hint

Abhishek could miss out if Gambhir brings Rinku in [Source: AFP]

Indian batter Rinku Singh was hit by personal crisis, as his beloved father passed away amid the ongoing T20 World Cup. As Rinku Singh is steadily coming to terms with the tragic loss, India head coach Gautam Gambhir has given a massive hint on his comeback to the playing XI for the high-octane semifinal against England at Wankhede Stadium. 

Led by Suryakumar Yadav, India have enjoyed a clinical run in the T20 World Cup 2026. The Men in Blue have won six of their seven matches, showcasing red-hot form ahead of the semifinal. 

As they prepare for the knockout fixture against England, Gautam Gambhir's latest move has hinted at Rinku Singh's potential comeback to the Indian XI for the Wankhede encounter. 

Rinku Singh attends India's optional practice session before T20 World Cup semifinal

On Thursday, March 5, India will lock horns with England in a high-pressure semifinal match of the T20 World Cup 2026. Ahead of the crucial clash, experienced middle-order batter Rinku Singh attended an optional practice session arranged by head coach Gautam Gambhir. 

According to renowned Indian journalist Sahil Malhotra of TOI, Rinku Singh was among the high-profile names Gambhir summoned for the optional practice session in Mumbai. Apart from the stylish southpaw, Varun Chakaravarthy, Tilak Varma and Washington Sundar were the other players to undergo the optional session. 

Sahil Malhotra

@Sahil_Malhotra1

Rinku Singh, Varun C, Tilak Varma and Washi have come for optional nets.

Mar 4, 2026, 12:57 PM

Varun Chakaravarthy is spearheading the spin bowling attack, while Tilak has been a vital cog of the Indian batting unit. On the other hand, Rinku and Sundar missed out on the last Super 8 fixture against the West Indies, which India won to qualify for the semifinal. 

Also read: Gautam Gambhir's Moving Speech Leaves Rinku Singh Emotional

After losing their first Super 8 match against South Africa, the Men in Blue made a significant change in their lineup, replacing Washington Sundar with Axar Patel. Meanwhile, Rinku Singh left the national setup to be with his ailing father in his final days. 

Rinku reunited with the Indian team after his father's demise, showcasing incredible commitment and professionalism despite a significant personal crisis. So, his presence in the optional practice session made Indian cricket fanatics wonder whether the team management is planning to launch him as a surprise package against the in-form Englishmen.

Rinku Singh's T20 World Cup form

Despite the Indian team giving him ample opportunities, Rinku has yet to let his bat do the talking in the T20 World Cup. The explosive finisher has managed 24 runs across five innings at a middling average of 8 and a strike rate of 82.76. 

Having said that, he has been a proven match-winner for the Suryakumar Yadav-led side in T20Is. Overall, Rinku has amassed 665 runs in 33 innings, averaging 39.1 and striking at 155.7 in the shortest format. 

So, there's absolutely no doubt with regards to his match-winning potential, and he certainly can be an X-factor for India lower down the order. 

Who will miss out if Rinku Singh gets in?

The bigger question is who India will drop if Rinku gets a wildcard entry into their playing XI for the T20 World Cup semifinal. 

As Axar Patel has proved his mettle with the ball and Ishan Kishan, Shivam Dube and Tilak Varma have stepped up with the bat, the out-of-form Abhishek Sharma could make way for Rinku if the Indian management considers bringing the latter into the mix. 

In such a scenario, Ishan Kishan might open the batting with Sanju Samson, with Rinku likely to fill a vacant slot in the middle-order. 

Also read: Sanju Samson Jumps Big, Sahibzada Farhan Challenges Abhishek Sharma In ICC Rankings