Team India Practice Live Updates: Puppy stops training session in Chennai

Team India Practice, Live Updates: Preparations for the India vs Zimbabwe match are underway at the MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai. After taking a rest day to shake off the South Africa loss, Suryakumar Yadav’s team has hit the nets to keep their hopes of T20 World Cup 2026 semifinals qualifications alive.

Match Details

Match: India vs Zimbabwe, Match 48, Super 8 (Group 1)
Date: February 26, 2026 (Thursday)
Time: 7:00 PM IST
Venue: MA Chidambaram Stadium, Chennai

Live

Team India Practice, Live Updates: Training stops momentarily

24/02/2026 20:50

Team India were forced to halt their training session after a puppy joined them in the nets. He was gently escorted out of the premises by security.

He's being escorted by security. pic.twitter.com/FWViHZAztE
— Gargi Raut (@gargiraut15) February 24, 2026

Rinku Singh update

24/02/2026 20:42

It turns out Rinku's father, Khanchand Singh, has liver cancer. He's been undergoing treatment in Noida for a year. His condition deteriorated suddenly, and he has been put on a ventilator.

"It was detected around a year ago, following which he stopped delivering LPG cylinders on insistence from Rinku. Since then, he has been undergoing treatment under the guidance of doctors from the same Noida hospital. They were also administering him expensive injections since then," a source told the New Indian Express. "The condition of his father deteriorated, following which he was put on a ventilator. Rinku was informed about it," the source added.

Team India Practice, Live Updates: Abhishek Sharma starts batting practice

24/02/2026 20:30

After bowling for nearly an hour, Abhishek Sharma has finally started his batting practice.

All eyes on Abhishek Sharma- He is mainly batting vs Net bowlers be it spin or pacers & most importantly he is not batting at the start pic.twitter.com/90chRCse8G
— Rohit Juglan (@rohitjuglan) February 24, 2026

Team India Practice, Live Updates: Bumrah & Varun together

24/02/2026 20:17

Bumrah and Varun are bowling in tandem in the nets. Both of them will have to shine in the remaining matches if India wants to qualify for the semifinals.

Jasprit bumrah and Varun Chakravarty in practice session at Chepauk stadium Chennai for Zimbabwe challenge.🙌🇮🇳 pic.twitter.com/yaXC0lIGss
— 𝐑𝐮𝐬𝐡𝐢𝐢𝐢⁴⁵ (@rushiii_12) February 24, 2026

Team India Practice, Live Updates: Sad update

24/02/2026 20:06

In a concerning update, it's learnt that Rinku Singh's father, Khanchandra Singh, has been undergoing cancer treatment for the last 12 months and his health has deteriorated. Read more about it here.

Team India Practice, Live Updates: Rinku Singh out of IND vs ZIM match?

24/02/2026 19:51

In a positive update for Team India, Rinku Singh is expected to be available for the India vs Zimbabwe match on February 26. He'll tend to his ailing father and return for the game in Chennai.

Rinku to return before the match vs Zim most likely
— Rohit Juglan (@rohitjuglan) February 24, 2026

Team India Practice, Live Updates: Morkel helping Bumrah

24/02/2026 19:45

Meanwhile, Jasprit Bumrah is working alone with Morkel. He hasn't been bowling to other batters in the nets. Bumrah has been doing this throughout the tournament. Nothing new.

More from #India’s practice in #Chennai for #T20WorldCup2026 game.

- Rinku Singh flew home due to family emergency, should rejoin
- Jasprit Bumrah in bowling nets with Morkel
- Shivam Dube, Ishan Kishan, Surya Kumar Yadav in action#Cricket #T20WorldCup #INDvsZIM | @im_sandipan pic.twitter.com/Xm7u6TGH1f
— The CricHub (@thecrichub_live) February 24, 2026

Team India Practice, Live Updates: Rinku Singh returns home

24/02/2026 19:35

Rinku Singh, the only member of Team India who isn't at the ground, has returned home. His father Khanchandra Singh is unwell. He's expected to join the team soon.

He went back home. His father is unwell. Expected to rejoin the team again. https://t.co/b1Y1H2koEV
— Subhayan Chakraborty (@CricSubhayan) February 24, 2026

Team India Practice, Live Updates: SKY vs spin

24/02/2026 19:31

Suryakumar Yadav's praciting against left-arm spin, one of his weaknesses.

Suryakumar Yadav hitting big shots in nets at Chepauk stadium Chennai.🔥

Team India getting ready for Zimbabwe.🙌🇮🇳 pic.twitter.com/dVOFhFBDRm
— 𝐑𝐮𝐬𝐡𝐢𝐢𝐢⁴⁵ (@rushiii_12) February 24, 2026

Team India Practice, Live Updates: Samson in focus

24/02/2026 19:23

Gambhir is watching Samson with a keen eye. Some believe that Samson could come in for Tilak Varma against Zimbabwe.

Long hits for Sanju Samson, Tilak Varma, SKY and Ishan. Abhishek, Axar, Varun, Arshdeep, Siraj, Washi, Kuldeep bowling.

Gambhir keeping close eye on Samson at the moment. pic.twitter.com/0bfQZTnJGE
— Sahil Malhotra (@Sahil_Malhotra1) February 24, 2026

Team India Practice, Live Updates

24/02/2026 19:15

From earlier today, head coach Gautam Gambhir and batting coach Sitanshu Kotak were the first one's to inspect the pitch.

Gambhir and Kotak first to come and check the pitch #INDvZIM pic.twitter.com/nnD5BRcocx
— Sports Express (@Xpress_Sports) February 24, 2026

Team India Practice, Live Updates: Pitch getting ready

24/02/2026 19:06

The groundstaff is working on the pitch. The surface in Chennai has been batting-friendly with no help to spinners so far. One assumes we'll see a good track again on Thursday.

Light roller and a heavy roller on the pitch that is to be used two days out. #INDvZIM pic.twitter.com/UQVIa85tVl
— Sports Express (@Xpress_Sports) February 24, 2026

Team India Practice, Live Updates: Switch up

24/02/2026 18:57

They've switched it up now. Samson and Kishan are having fast bowlers now, Mohammed Siraj, while Tilak and Suryakumar continue facing spinners, Abhishek, Varun, Kuldeep Yadav,Axar Patel, and Washington Sundar.

Sanju Samson starts the nets with Ishan Kishan while Abhishek Sharma is bowling to Suryakumar Yadav and Tilak Varma at the other nets pic.twitter.com/qNDhKY7X6B
— Subhayan Chakraborty (@CricSubhayan) February 24, 2026

Team India Practice, Live Updates: SKY, Samson batting together

24/02/2026 18:52

Next to Tilak and Kishan, Sanju Samson and Suryakumar Yadav are facing spinners as well. Varun Chakaravarthy and Axar Patel are bowling to them. Assistant/fast bowler coach Morne Morkel watches with a keen eye.

Now SKY at Pace & Sanju waiting to go at Pace Nets #INDvsZIM #T20WorldCup https://t.co/TFNQAmSKiy pic.twitter.com/rq9KOJhP6a
— Ankan Kar (@AnkanKar) February 24, 2026

Team India Practice, Live Updates: Facing spin in nets

24/02/2026 18:44

Ishan Kishan, who got out against spin in Ahmedabad, and Tilak Varma, who hasn't been playing that well in the middle overs, are both practicing together. On the bowlers in the nets is Abhishek Sharma, a left-arm spinner.

Ishan at Pace & Tilak at Spin, India begins Training at Chepauk #INDvsZIM #T20WorldCup pic.twitter.com/UoQdfo9PkO
— Ankan Kar (@AnkanKar) February 24, 2026

Team India Practice, Live Updates: No Rinku Singh?

24/02/2026 18:41

It looks like Rinku Singh hasn't turned up for practice. A reminder that all of India's practice sessions are optional. It's upto the player if they want to train or not, granted they are fit.

No Rinku Singh as India train at the MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai. pic.twitter.com/3gck2SQT1u
— Subhayan Chakraborty (@CricSubhayan) February 24, 2026