Sunrisers Hyderabad have signed South African pacer Gerald Coetzee as a replacement for the injured David Payne for the remainder of IPL 2026. The franchise has acquired the right arm quick for a fee of Rs 2 crore. Payne has been ruled out of the tournament after picking up an ankle injury, having featured in just two games for the Orange Army.
Moreover, Coetzee had gone unsold in the mega auction despite being part of South Africa’s T20 World Cup 2026 squad. The IPL confirmed the signing through an official release on April 18.
David Payne Ruled Out After Brief SRH Stint
The left arm seamer had originally entered the SRH squad as cover for Australian all rounder Jack Edwards, who missed the entire season with a foot injury. However, Payne’s own campaign ended abruptly due to a persistent ankle problem. He claimed figures of 2/35 in three overs on debut against Royal Challengers Bengaluru, dismissing captain Rajat Patidar and wicketkeeper Jitesh Sharma.
Meanwhile, his second outing against Kolkata Knight Riders proved expensive as he went wicketless and leaked 35 runs in two overs. Consequently, SRH needed another overseas pacer to cover the business end of the season.
Gerald Coetzee Brings International Pedigree to the Orange Army
The South African speedster arrives with an impressive global resume. Furthermore, he has represented his country in 4 Tests, 14 ODIs and 18 T20Is, collecting 67 international wickets across formats. Coetzee is no stranger to the IPL either, having played 14 matches previously for Gujarat Titans and Mumbai Indians.
He picked up 15 wickets during those combined stints, featuring for MI in IPL 2024 and GT in IPL 2025. Additionally, his ability to clock speeds above 145 kmph offers SRH a genuine mid innings strike option, which the side has occasionally lacked this campaign.
SRH Injury Woes Pile Up in IPL 2026
Coetzee’s arrival follows another injury driven signing earlier in the season. The franchise roped in Sri Lankan quick Dilshan Madushanka to cover for England’s Brydon Carse, who was struck during a net session. Meanwhile, captain Pat Cummins is yet to feature in IPL 2026 as he continues his recovery from a back issue.
SRH currently sit fifth on the points table with two wins from five matches and a net run rate of 0.576. Their next fixture is against Chennai Super Kings at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium in Hyderabad on April 18.
