ICC T20 World Cup 2026: Team India's practice session focuses on Sanju Samson in Rinku Singh's absence
ICC T20 World Cup 2026: Chennai: Indian batsman Rinku Singh has returned home due to a family emergency and is doubtful for the Super 8 match against Zimbabwe in Chennai on February 26. Rinku was not present at the practice session held under floodlights two days before the match at Chepauk. Samson's presence could balance the predominance of left-handed batsmen in India's batting order.
Rinku has had an unremarkable tournament so far. After scores of 6, 1, 11 (not out), and 6 (not out) in the group stage, he failed to open his account in the 76-run loss to South Africa in Ahmedabad.
If Rinku is unavailable for Thursday's match, Sanju Samson could return to the playing XI. This could break the dominance of left-handed batsmen in the top order. However, captain Suryakumar Yadav also remains an option at No. 3. Samson had a long practice session on the centre wicket during India's practice session on Tuesday. He later batted in the MA Chidambaram B nets adjacent to the main ground.
At around 6:30 a.m., Samson and Ishan Kishan faced fast bowlers under the supervision of coach Gautam Gambhir in the first nets. Whenever Mohammed Siraj or Arshdeep Singh bowled a back-of-length or short delivery, Samson quickly came on the back foot and pulled it forcefully over long-on or midwicket. A powerful shot over wide long-on had the cameraman scrambling to save himself.
Missed Arshdeep's good length delivery
However, when Arshdeep bowled a good length delivery, Samson remained on the back foot, went for a drive without using his feet, and missed. In the series against New Zealand before the T20 World Cup, Jacob Duffy and Matt Henry had troubled him with similar lengths, leaving him unable to find room to play shots over cover or straight. Later, Samson tried to create space by moving back, but that tactic also failed.
Smashed a six over the off side
A little while later, Samson found his rhythm against spin in the second net. When mystery spinner Varun Chakravarthy bowled a slightly overpitched delivery, Samson smashed a six over the off side. After spending some time practicing his keeping with fielding coach T. Dilip, Samson went to the side nets and batted again under the supervision of assistant coach Ryan Ten Doeschate.
Following the heavy defeat against South Africa in Ahmedabad, Ten Doeschate hinted that India would consider their top-order options for the match against Zimbabwe. Rinku's possible absence and Tuesday's practice session also point to this change.