Today, the Indian cricket scene is in mourning over the death of Khanchand Singh, father of star Indian batter Rinku Singh. Khanchand Singh passed away at Yatharth Hospital in Greater Noida in the early hours of Friday, Feb 27, 2026 after an arduous and protracted fight with Stage 4 liver cancer.
He was 54
Rinku’s former coach, Masood Amini, and hospital personnel confirmed the information and said his condition had deteriorated significantly during the past few days, needing support via ventilator. Rinku, who was part of the Indian team during the T20 World Cup 2026, had left the camp for a brief time to be with his father and flew back in for the Super 8 match against Zimbabwe on Thursday. He has now been repatriated to his hometown of Aligarh for the final rites.
Understanding Stage 4 Liver Cancer
Stage 4 liver cancer (also called metastatic liver cancer — the most advanced stage of illness) at this point has spread from the liver to distant organs (such as the lungs or bones) or distant lymph nodes.
The Presenting Symptoms of Advanced Liver Cancer
Liver cancer is often “silent” in its early stages. But by Stage 4, symptoms are severe and hard to ignore:
- Jaundice: Eyes and skin turn yellow; the liver isn't able to handle bilirubin.
- Ascites: Swelling from a painful buildup of fluid in the abdominal cavity.
- Persistent Fatigue: Intense fatigue that does not respond to rest.
- Pain in the abdomen: Sharp or dull pain, upper right side of abdomen or near right shoulder blade.
- Unexplained Weight Loss: Fast loss of appetite and muscle mass.
Common Causes and Risk Factors
Liver cancer is seldom the result of mere normal processes. Primary risk factors include:
- Chronic Hepatitis: Persistent infection with Hepatitis B or C.
- Cirrhosis: Irreversible scarring of liver tissue, often caused by alcohol disease and fatty liver disease.
- NAFLD/NASH: Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, commonly associated with obesity and diabetes.
- Aflatoxins: Poisons made by molds that can be found on crops that are grown in humid areas.
Survival rate and prognosis
Stage 4 liver cancer is primarily thought of as incurable, with treatment as an approach that’s oriented around palliative care getting patients in the best place you can make them and extending their lives more than a complete cure.
- 5-year survival: According to the American Cancer Society, there's a 5-year survival rate for metastatic (Stage 4) liver cancer of about 3 to 5%.
- Life expectancy: With the aid of newly developed targeted therapies and immunotherapy, a few people live about 12–24 months, but the longevity of these people varies widely according to the patient’s overall liver function.
A Legacy of Sacrifice
Rinku Singh has said that his father was behind his success to the standard of India’s best cricket players. Khanchand Singh is probably most famous for his work as an LPG cylinder delivery man in Aligarh where he was paid a pittance and took care of Rinku’s training. Although Rinku went on to be one of India’s top names and an IPL millionaire, Khanchand is said to have kept this delivery job for a long time representing the grit and humility that his father is now so associated with on the field.
